Journal Article Review Epublish 20 citations
PubMed: 35743872 DOI: 10.3390/life12060841
Shape Deformation, Budding and Division of Giant Vesicles and Artificial Cells: A Review.
Life (Basel) 12(6)
Authors: Ylenia Miele, Gábor Holló, István Lagzi, Federico Rossi
Affiliations
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy.
- MTA-BME Condensed Matter Research Group, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Muegyetem rkp. 3, 1111 Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Physics, Institute of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Muegyetem rkp. 3, 1111 Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Physical Sciences-DEEP Sciences, University of Siena, Pian dei Mantellini 44, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Abstract
The understanding of the shape-change dynamics leading to the budding and division of artificial cells has gained much attention in the past few decades due to an increased interest in designing stimuli-responsive synthetic systems and minimal models of biological self-reproduction. In this respect, membranes and their composition play a fundamental role in many aspects related to the stability of the vesicles: permeability, elasticity, rigidity, tunability and response to external changes. In this review, we summarise recent experimental and theoretical work dealing with shape deformation and division of (giant) vesicles made of phospholipids and/or fatty acids membranes. Following a classic approach, we divide the strategies used to destabilise the membranes into two different types, physical (osmotic stress, temperature and light) and chemical (addition of amphiphiles, the addition of reactive molecules and pH changes) even though they often act in synergy when leading to a complete division process. Finally, we review the most important theoretical methods employed to describe the equilibrium shapes of giant vesicles and how they provide ways to explain and control the morphological changes leading from one equilibrium structure to another.
MeSH
Cells, Artificial Cells, Membranes
Cited by
- Evolution of Proliferative Model Protocells Highly Responsive to the Environment. Life (Basel), 2022
- Shocker─A Molecular Dynamics Protocol and Tool for Accelerating and Analyzing the Effects of Osmotic Shocks. J Chem Theory Comput, 2024
- Protocell Dynamics: Modelling Growth and Division of Lipid Vesicles Driven by an Autocatalytic Reaction. Life (Basel), 2025
- Dynamic flow control through active matter programming language. Nat Mater, 2025
- Light-Switchable Membrane Permeability in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles. Pharmaceutics, 2022