The use of aqueous dispersions polystyrene sulfonate-stabilized graphene sheets for the fabrication nanocomposites with higher-order 3D architectures is demonstrated using two examples template-directed assembly. Macroscopic sponge-like polymer–graphene scaffolds are readily produced by directional freeze casting, while hollow microspheres prepared electrostatically induced assembly on positively charged polymer beads.

Stabilization of aqueous suspensions graphene single sheets by single-stranded DNA is demonstrated using a range physical methods. The negatively charged bio-functionalized are spontaneously assembled into layered hybrid nanocomposites containing intercalated molecules, or co-intercalated mixtures and the redox protein, cytochrome c. Small-molecule reducing agents readily access proteins.

The design and construction of higher-order structure function in proteinosome microcompartments enclosed by a cross-linked membrane amphiphilic bovine serum albumin/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (BSA-NH2/PNIPAAm) nanoconjugates is described. Three structure/function relationships are investigated: (i) differential chemical cross-linking for the control disassembly regulated release encapsulated genetic polymers; (ii) enzyme-mediated hydrogel structuring internal microenvironment to increase...

Abstract The spontaneous assembly of chemically encoded, molecularly crowded, water-rich micro-droplets into periodic defect-free two-dimensional arrays is achieved in aqueous media by a combination an acoustic standing wave pressure field and situ complex coacervation. Acoustically mediated coalescence primary droplets generates single-droplet per node micro-arrays that exhibit variable surface-attachment properties, spontaneously uptake dyes, enzymes particles, display spatial...

Molecularly crowded, polyelectrolyte/ribonucleotide‐enriched membrane‐free coacervate droplets are transformed into membrane‐bounded sub‐divided vesicles by using a polyoxometalate‐mediated surface‐templating procedure. The to vesicle transition results in reconstruction of the micro‐droplets novel three‐tiered micro‐compartments comprising semi‐permeable negatively charged polyoxometalate/polyelectrolyte outer membrane, sub‐membrane shell, and an internal aqueous lumen. We demonstrate that...

Abstract The design and assembly of artificial protocell consortia displaying dynamical behaviours systems-based properties are emerging challenges in bottom-up synthetic biology. Cellular processes such as morphogenesis differentiation rely part on reaction-diffusion gradients, the ability to mimic rudimentary aspects these non-equilibrium communities cells could provide a step life-like systems capable complex spatiotemporal transformations. Here we expose acoustically formed arrays...

Abstract The development of programmable microscale materials with cell-like functions, dynamics and collective behaviour is an important milestone in systems chemistry, soft matter bioengineering synthetic protobiology. Here, polymer/nucleotide coacervate micro-droplets are reconfigured into membrane-bounded polyoxometalate vesicles (PCVs) the presence a bio-inspired Ru-based catalyst to produce synzyme protocells (Ru 4 PCVs) catalase-like activity. We exploit for implementation...

Abstract Molecularly crowded coacervate micro‐droplets are useful protocell constructs but the absence of a physical membrane limits their application as cytomimetic models. Auxiliary surface‐active agents have been harnessed to stabilize droplets by irreversible shell formation endogenous processes reversible membranization received minimal attention. Herein, we describe dynamic alginate/silk coacervate‐based model in which membrane‐less reversibly reconfigured and inflated into...

Gift wrapped: Biomolecules can be enveloped within an ultrathin shell of aminopropyl-functionalized magnesium (organo)phyllosilicate to produce aqueous dispersions discrete protein–inorganic nanoparticles. Similar procedures but with organoclay oligomers that have pendent long-chain hydrophobic moieties result in self-assembly the nanoparticles into higher-order superstructures (see picture). Supporting information for this article is available on WWW under...

A protocol for the preparation of stable suspensions well-defined metallized tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) nanorods in high yields and with uniform coatings is reported. Inorganic growth on virion surface was controlled by adding aliquots gold precursor (HAuCl4) reducing agent (NaBH4) incrementally over five addition–reduction cycles to produce hybrid anisotropic nanostructures consisting densely packed nanoparticles. Several novel steps, including addition ethanol after first cycle wrapping...

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and PLLA/collagen (50% PLLA+50% collagen; PLLA/Col) nanofibers were fabricated using electrospinning. Mineralization of these was processed a modified alternating soaking method. The structural properties morphologies mineralized PLLA PLLA/Col investigated X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measurements. Human bone-derived osteoblasts cultured on the materials for up to 1 week...

Using a range of physical methods, we describe the formation, structure, stability, properties and uptake behavior condensed liquid micro-droplets prepared by electrostatically induced complexation poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA) adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in water. Depending on PDDA monomer: ATP molar ratio, positively charged or charge-neutral droplets are produced spontaneously simple mixing. The former typically 60–600 nm mean size stable with respect to sedimentation up...

Routine and reliable syntheses of self-assembled hybrid materials with tuneable functionalities are urgently required if novel functional nanostructures to be developed for real-life applications economic commercialization. This Highlight presents an overview recent progress in the synthesis use a new class mesolamellar magnesium organophyllosilicate clays containing covalently linked organic functionalities. We focus particular on strategies template-directed synthesis, exfoliation,...

Cylindrical micelles were added as templates to sol–gel reaction mixtures yield highly elongated polymer/inorganic nanostructures with smooth nanothin surface coatings of silica, zirconia, or alumina. Differences in the templating activity neutral cationic coronas can be exploited by using triblock comicelles produce discrete nanocylinders spatially isolated domains titania deposition. Detailed facts importance specialist readers are published "Supporting Information". Such documents...

Encapsulation of structurally and functionally intact chloroplasts within coacervate micro-droplets is used to prepare photosynthetically active membrane-free protocells.

Preparation of biocompatible and electrically-conducting chitin nanotube composite scaffold for potential use in implantable electrode stimulation repair neurons.

Immobilization of compartmentalized microscale objects in 3D hydrogels provides a step towards the modular assembly soft functional materials with tunable architectures and distributed functionalities. Herein, we report use combination micro-compartmentalization, immobilization, modularization to fabricate assemble hydrogel-based microreactor assemblies comprising millions functionalized polysaccharide-polynucleotide coacervate droplets. The heterogeneous can be structurally fused by...

In the current theme of dental pulp regeneration, biological and synthetic scaffolds are becoming a potential therapy for revitalization. The goal is to provide suitable environment cellular infiltration, proliferation, differentiation. extracellular matrix (ECM) represents natural scaffold material resembling native tissue chemical mechanical properties. past few years, ECM-based have shown promising results in terms progenitor cells recruitment, promotion constructive remodeling,...

An aminopropyl-functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate clay was synthesized and used as an exfoliated precursor for the intercalation of myoglobin (Mb), haemoglobin (Hb) or glucose oxidase (GOx). Intercalation achieved by exfoliation as-synthesized organoclay in water followed room temperature re-assembly lamellar phase presence negatively charged protein molecules. X-Ray diffraction data resulting nanocomposites showed expansion interlayer d001 spacing from 1.6 nm parent to 4.3 6.4 samples...

Nanosheets or nanoclusters of aminopropyl-functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate (AMP) were prepared in water by exfoliation and used as structural building blocks for the preparation DNA-based hybrid nanostructures form ordered mesolamellar nanocomposites highly elongated nanowires, respectively. The former consisted alternating layers single sheets AMP interspaced with intercalated monolayers intact double-stranded DNA molecules relatively short length ( approximately 700 base pairs) that...