Print Email Facebook Twitter Membrane Tension–Mediated Growth of Liposomes Title Membrane Tension–Mediated Growth of Liposomes Author Deshpande, S.R. (TU Delft BN/Cees Dekker Lab; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft) Wunnava Venkata, S.S. (TU Delft BN/Cees Dekker Lab; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft) Hueting, D.A. (TU Delft BN/Cees Dekker Lab; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft) Dekker, C. (TU Delft BN/Cees Dekker Lab; Kavli institute of nanoscience Delft) Date 2019 Abstract Recent years have seen a tremendous interest in the bottom-up reconstitution of minimal biomolecular systems, with the ultimate aim of creating an autonomous synthetic cell. One of the universal features of living systems is cell growth, where the cell membrane expands through the incorporation of newly synthesized lipid molecules. Here, the gradual tension-mediated growth of cell-sized (≈10 µm) giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) is demonstrated, to which nanometer-sized (≈30 nm) small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) are provided, that act as a lipid source. By putting tension on the GUV membranes through a transmembrane osmotic pressure, SUV–GUV fusion events are promoted and substantial growth of the GUV is caused, even up to doubling its volume. Thus, experimental evidence is provided that membrane tension alone is sufficient to bring about membrane fusion and growth is demonstrated for both pure phospholipid liposomes and for hybrid vesicles with a mixture of phospholipids and fatty acids. The results show that growth of liposomes can be realized in a protein-free minimal system, which may find useful applications in achieving autonomous synthetic cells that are capable of undergoing a continuous growth–division cycle. Subject growthhybrid vesiclesliposomesmembrane fusionmembrane tensionmicrofluidicssynthetic cells To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:91c4ef06-c209-4c63-8b52-cc80cfd9f631 DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201902898 Embargo date 2020-07-18 ISSN 1613-6810 Source Small (online), 15 (38) Bibliographical note Accepted Author Manuscript Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2019 S.R. Deshpande, S.S. Wunnava Venkata, D.A. Hueting, C. Dekker Files PDF Manuscript.pdf 1.53 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:91c4ef06-c209-4c63-8b52-cc80cfd9f631/datastream/OBJ/view