Single-cell yolk-shell nanoencapsulation for long-term viability with size-dependent permeability and molecular recognition

Abstract Like nanomaterials, bacteria have been unknowingly used for centuries. They hold significant economic potential for fuel and medicinal compound production. Their full exploitation, however, is impeded by low biological activity and stability in industrial reactors. Though cellular encapsula...

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Published in:National science review 2021-04, Vol.8 (4), p.nwaa097
Main Authors: Wang, Li, Li, Yu, Yang, Xiao-Yu, Zhang, Bo-Bo, Ninane, Nöelle, Busscher, Henk J, Hu, Zhi-Yi, Delneuville, Cyrille, Jiang, Nan, Xie, Hao, Van Tendeloo, Gustaaf, Hasan, Tawfique, Su, Bao-Lian
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Abstract Like nanomaterials, bacteria have been unknowingly used for centuries. They hold significant economic potential for fuel and medicinal compound production. Their full exploitation, however, is impeded by low biological activity and stability in industrial reactors. Though cellular encapsulation addresses these limitations, cell survival is usually compromised due to shell-to-cell contacts and low permeability. Here, we report ordered packing of silica nanocolloids with organized, uniform and tunable nanoporosities for single cyanobacterium nanoencapsulation using protamine as an electrostatic template. A space between the capsule shell and the cell is created by controlled internalization of protamine, resulting in a highly ordered porous shell-void-cell structure formation. These unique yolk-shell nanostructures provide long-term cell viability with superior photosynthetic activities and resistance in harsh environments. In addition, engineering the colloidal packing allows tunable shell-pore diameter for size-dependent permeability and introduction of new functionalities for specific molecular recognition. Our strategy could significantly enhance the activity and stability of cyanobacteria for various nanobiotechnological applications. Single-cell yolk-shell nanoencapsulation endows living cells with a hierarchical ordered porous structure, significantly enhancing biological activity, stability, molecular recognition and resistance to harsh environment for various nanobiotechnological functionalisation and applications.
ISSN:2095-5138
2053-714X
DOI:10.1093/nsr/nwaa097