Probing and modeling cell-cell communication in 2D biomimetic tissues
C Vincent1, S Ravindran1,2, A M Prevost1
1Laboratoire Jean Perrin, UMR 8237 Sorbonne Université/CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, 4 Place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France. elie.wandersman@sorbonne-universite.fr.
Soft Matter
|March 6, 2026
Summary
Cells exchange molecules via gap junctions. This study models this transport using droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) and α-hemolysin (αHL) pores, revealing how pore concentration affects molecular diffusion.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Cells communicate and exchange substances through gap junctions.
- Understanding the physical mechanisms of this intercellular transport is crucial for tissue function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physical mechanisms governing molecular transport between cells.
- To model intercellular transport using a simplified biomimetic system.
Main Methods:
- Utilized droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) as a biomimetic model for cell-cell junctions.
- Incorporated α-hemolysin (αHL) proteins to form nanopores in the DIBs.
- Employed epifluorescence microscopy and continuous time random walk (CTRW) modeling to analyze calcein diffusion.
Main Results:
- Successfully mimicked intercellular transport using 2D hexagonal DIB networks.
- Observed that calcein diffusion is dependent on αHL concentration.
- The CTRW model accurately reproduced experimental diffusion results, showing a nonlinear increase in waiting time with pore monomer concentration.
Conclusions:
- The biomimetic DIB system effectively replicates cellular transport mechanisms.
- Pore formation and concentration significantly influence the rate and characteristics of molecular diffusion.
- Theoretical modeling provides a robust framework for understanding transport dynamics in complex cellular networks.
