Reaction-driven assembly: controlling changes in membrane topology by reaction cycles

Area of Science:

• Soft-matter physics
• Chemical reaction dynamics
• Self-assembly

Background:

• Chemical reaction cycles can drive systems out of equilibrium.
• Amphiphilic molecules in aqueous solution can self-assemble into structures like vesicles.
• Controlling self-assembly is key to creating novel materials with life-like properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the behavior of amphiphilic molecules undergoing a chemical reaction cycle in aqueous solution.
• To explore how reaction rates influence vesicle formation and stability.
• To understand the mechanisms behind pore stabilization in chemically active vesicles.

Main Methods:

• Particle-based simulations were employed to model amphiphilic molecules.
• Continuum description was used to analyze vesicle behavior.
• The influence of a reaction cycle on molecular properties (tail hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity) was simulated.

Main Results:

• The chemical reaction cycle prevented vesicle coalescence, leading to uniform sizes.
• Vesicle size was found to be controllable by adjusting the reaction rate.
• Chemically active vesicles, inflated by a precursor, exhibited membrane tension and stabilized pores under specific conditions.

Conclusions:

• Chemical reaction cycles offer a method to control self-assembly in soft-matter systems.
• This approach enables the creation of uniform vesicles with tunable sizes.
• The findings suggest potential for designing dynamic soft-matter systems with life-like properties and controlled structural features.