Rep Prog Phys. 2019 Nov;82(11):116601. doi: 10.1088/1361-6633/ab37ca. Epub 2019 Aug 01.

Programmable interactions with biomimetic DNA linkers at fluid membranes and interfaces.

Reports on progress in physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)

Bortolo Matteo Mognetti, Pietro Cicuta, Lorenzo Di Michele

PMID: 31370052 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/ab37ca

Abstract

At the heart of the structured architecture and complex dynamics of biological systems are specific and timely interactions operated by biomolecules. In many instances, biomolecular agents are spatially confined to flexible lipid membranes where, among other functions, they control cell adhesion, motility and tissue formation. Besides being central to several biological processes, multivalent interactions mediated by reactive linkers confined to deformable substrates underpin the design of synthetic-biological platforms and advanced biomimetic materials. Here we review recent advances on the experimental study and theoretical modelling of a heterogeneous class of biomimetic systems in which synthetic linkers mediate multivalent interactions between fluid and deformable colloidal units, including lipid vesicles and emulsion droplets. Linkers are often prepared from synthetic DNA nanostructures, enabling full programmability of the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of their mutual interactions. The coupling of the statistical effects of multivalent interactions with substrate fluidity and deformability gives rise to a rich emerging phenomenology that, in the context of self-assembled soft materials, has been shown to produce exotic phase behaviour, stimuli-responsiveness, and kinetic programmability of the self-assembly process. Applications to (synthetic) biology will also be reviewed.

Substances

• DNA

MeSH terms

• Biomimetic Materials / chemistry
• Biomimetic Materials / metabolism
• Cell Membrane / metabolism
• DNA / chemistry

Publication Types

• Journal Article
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't