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Updated: Mar 10, 2026

Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro
Published on: April 8, 2020
Mix and Match: Coassembly of Amphiphilic Dendrimers and Phospholipids Creates Robust, Modular, and Controllable
Samuel S Hinman, Charles J Ruiz, Yu Cao1
1Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, UMR 7325, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, 13288 Marseille, France.
Abstract:
Self-assembly of supramolecular structures has become an attractive means to create new biologically inspired materials and interfaces. We report the first robust hybrid bilayer systems readily coassembled from amphiphilic dendrimers and a naturally occurring phospholipid. Both concentration and generation of the dendrimers have direct impacts on the biophysical properties of the coassemblies. Raising the dendrimer concentration increases the hybrid bilayer stability, while changes in the generation and the concentration of the embedded dendrimers impact the fluidity of the coassembled systems. Multivalent dendrimer amine terminals allow for nondestructive in situ derivatization, providing a convenient approach to decorate and modulate the local environment of the hybrid bilayer. The coassembly of lipid/dendrimer interfaces offers a unique platform for the creation of hybrid systems with modular and precisely controllable behavior for further applications in sensing and drug delivery.
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