Distribution of polyelectrolytes and counterions upon polyelectrolyte complexation.

Hypothesis: Understanding polyelectrolyte complexation remains limited due to the absence of a systematic methodology for analyzing the distribution of components between the polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) and the dilute phases.

Experiments: We developed a methodology based on NMR to quantify all components of solid-like PECs and their supernatant phases formed by mixing different ratios of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(acrylic acid)-sodium salt (PAA). This approach allowed for determining relative and absolute concentrations of polyelectrolytes in both phases by H NMR studies.

Recruitment of Receptors and Ligands in a Weakly Multivalent System with Omnipresent Signatures of Superselective Binding.

Recruitment of receptors at membrane interfaces is essential in biological recognition and uptake processes. The interactions that induce recruitment are typically weak at the level of individual interaction pairs, but are strong and selective at the level of recruited ensembles. Here, a model system is demonstrated, based on the supported lipid bilayer (SLB) that mimics the recruitment process induced by weakly multivalent interactions.

Vesicle-based artificial cells: materials, construction methods and applications.

The construction of artificial cells with specific cell-mimicking functions helps to explore complex biological processes and cell functions in natural cell systems and provides an insight into the origins of life. Bottom-up methods are widely used for engineering artificial cells based on vesicles by the assembly of biomimetic materials. In this review, the design of artificial cells with a specific function is discussed, by considering the selection of synthetic materials and construction technologies.