Multivesicular droplets: a cell model system to study compartmentalised biochemical reactions

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Multivesicular vesicles (MVVs) are crucial for studying cellular compartmentalization and developing artificial cells.
• Existing MVV preparation methods lack precise control over size, lamellarity, and inner vesicle loading.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce a microfluidic device for producing multivesicular droplets (MVDs).
• Combine droplet microfluidics' control with MVVs' biological relevance for a novel model system.

Main Methods:

• Generate monodisperse droplets using a perfluorinated carrier phase and biocompatible surfactant.
• Utilize high-speed microscopy to verify on-chip MVD formation and stability.
• Employ microscopy in a trapped array to assess MVD and lipid vesicle integrity for up to 15 minutes.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced stable, monodisperse multivesicular droplets (MVDs) on-chip.
• Demonstrated preserved integrity of MVDs and encapsulated lipid vesicles under microscopy.
• Showcased a two-step enzymatic reaction across lipid vesicle membranes within MVDs.

Conclusions:

• The microfluidic approach enables precise control over artificial organelle formation.
• MVDs serve as a versatile platform for mimicking cellular compartments with tunable parameters.
• This method advances the development of artificial organelles and protocell models.