Synthetic protocells to mimic and test cell function

Synthetic protocells provide a new means to probe, mimic and deconstruct cell behavior; they are a powerful tool to quantify cell behavior and a useful platform to explore nanomedicine. Protocells are not simple particles; they mimic cell design and typically consist of a stabilized lipid bilayer wi...

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Veröffentlicht in:Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.). - 1998. - 22(2010), 1 vom: 05. Jan., Seite 120-7
1. Verfasser: Xu, Jian (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Sigworth, Fred J, LaVan, David A
Format: Online-Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2010
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Schlagworte:News Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Antiporters Lipid Bilayers
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Synthetic protocells provide a new means to probe, mimic and deconstruct cell behavior; they are a powerful tool to quantify cell behavior and a useful platform to explore nanomedicine. Protocells are not simple particles; they mimic cell design and typically consist of a stabilized lipid bilayer with membrane proteins. With a finite number of well characterized components, protocells can be designed to maximize useful outputs. Energy conversion in cells is an intriguing output; many natural cells convert transmembrane ion gradients into electricity by membrane-protein regulated ion transport. Here, a synthetic cell system comprising two droplets separated by a lipid bilayer is described that functions as a biological battery. The factors that affect its electrogenic performance are explained and predicted by coupling equations of the electrodes, transport proteins and membrane behavior. We show that the output of such biological batteries can reach an energy density of 6.9 x 10(6) J m(-3), which is approximately 5% of the volumetric energy density of a lead-acid battery. The configuration with maximum power density has an energy conversion efficiency of 10%
Beschreibung:Date Completed 08.06.2010
Date Revised 12.03.2024
published: Print
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1521-4095
DOI:10.1002/adma.200901945