IMX Seminar Series - Bio-Synthetic Compartments as Mimics of Natural Organelles

New concepts that combine active compounds with stable, safe carriers or membranes resulting in functional systems are on focus in a variety of domains, such as medicine, catalysis, environmental science, food science and technology. In particular, suitable amphiphilic block copolymers are ideal candidates for generation of 3D supramolecular assemblies, such as compartments, micelles, nanotubes or planar membranes. Such synthetic flexible membranes have a superior stability, and robustness compared to the lipid based membranes, and can be obtained with a variety of physical and chemical properties. By combining such polymeric assemblies with suitable biological entities, e.g., by enzyme encapsulation in polymer compartments or biomolecules attachment at their surface, it is possible to provide well-defined functions, such as molecular recognition, cooperation, and catalytic activity.¹
Here, we present distinct spaces for desired reactions at the nano- and micrometer scale based on protein-polymer assemblies that play the role of artificial organelles when internalized in cells² or of simple protocells.³ Biopores/channel proteins inserted into the polymer membrane selectively control the exchange of substrates and products, resulting in development of stimuli-responsive compartments, which preserve their architecture, while allowing specific in situ reactions. This general strategy based on combination of synthetic assemblies and biomolecules supports the development of artificial organelles, proved to be functional in vitro and in vivo, in Zebra fish² or of compartments mimicking cellular processes inside.³
1.  A. Belluati, I. Craciun, J. Liu, C.G. Palivan, Biomacromolecules, 19: 4023–4033, 2018.
2.  T. Einfalt, D. Witzigmann, C. Edlinger, S. Sieber, R. Goers, A. Najer, M. Spulber, O. Onaca-Fischer, J. Huwyler, C. G. Palivan, Nature Comm., 9: 1127-1134, 2018.
3. S. Thamboo, A. Najer, A. Belluati, C. von Planta, D. Wu, I. Craciun, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan, Adv. Funct. Mater., 1904267: 1-12, 2019.

Bio: Cornelia G. Palivan received her Ph.D. degree in Physics at the University of Bucharest, after a two years research stage at the University of Geneva. Currently Professor in Physical Chemistry of the University of Basel and member of the Swiss Nanoscience Institute, she has as main scientific interests the development of functional bio-artificial systems that interface biomolecules (enzymes, proteins, DNA, mimics and combinations of thereof) with supramolecular synthetic assemblies (nanoparticles, polymersomes, solid-supported planar membranes, etc). Such hybrid bio-artificial systems provide optimum conditions for complex reactions at the nanoscale, and thus support translational applications in domains such medicine, catalysis, food- or environmental-sciences. She received during her career several prizes, awards and fellowships.