Synthetic membrane mimics towards xenobiotic synthetic cells

Cell membranes are not just a mere boundary between self and environment. They constitute a class of advanced 2D materials that serve as the main sensing apparatus of the cell and respond to internal and external cues by remodeling its shape and composition. Conversely, cell membrane mimics employed in the construction of synthetic cells have mostly been used to spatially confine biochemical systems, without taking active part in them.
I will introduce new classes of bilayer membranes based on the self-assembly of Janus Dendrimers[1] and amphiphilic copolymers with comb architecture.[2] These synthetic membrane mimics combine the high flexibility and lateral mobility of liposomes with the higher stability of polymersomes. Despite their xenobiotic design, they can host functional membrane proteins, biochemical processes, and offer unprecedented design spaces to tune material properties and interactions with their environment, enabling the construction of new types of synthetic cell membranes.
[1] Joseph, Anton, et al. « Zwitterionic dendrimersomes: a closer xenobiotic mimic of cell membranes. » Advanced Materials 34.49 (2022): 2206288.
[2] Wagner, Anna M., et al. « Ionic combisomes: a new class of biomimetic vesicles to fuse with life. » Advanced Science 9.17 (2022): 2200617

Keywords: Membrane biophysics, Bioinspired materials, Synthetic cells