Characterization and Optimization of Vesicle Properties in bioPISA: from Size Distribution to Post-Assembly Loading.

This study investigates the formation and properties of vesicles produced via biocatalytic Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly (bioPISA) as artificial cells. Methods for achieving size uniformity, including gentle centrifugation and sucrose gradient centrifugation, are explored, and the effects of stirring speed on vesicle morphology is investigated. The internal structure of the vesicles, characterized by a polymer-rich matrix, is analyzed using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS).

Grafting and controlled release of antimicrobial peptides from mesoporous silica.

The grafting of antimicrobial peptides onto mesoporous silica particles and their controlled release using a green light-responsive linker, which enables tunable release-concentration-time profiles, is presented. The mesoporous silica surface is functionalized with antimicrobial peptides employing sequential functionalization steps, including the grafting of 3-[(2-propynylcarbamate)propyl]triethoxysilane (PPTEOS) as anchor, boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) as photosensitive linker, and C14R peptides as antimicrobial agents. Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) validate the successful fabrication and functionalization of mesoporous silica.

Ultrashort Peptide Grafting on Mesoporous Films and Its Impact on Ionic Mesopore Accessibility.

An approach for direct in-pore solid-phase ultrashort peptide synthesis on mesoporous films using the amino acids arginine, leucine, and glycine is presented. Although the number of grafted amino acids remains low, the ionic mesopore accessibility can be gradually adjusted. The addition of arginine in up to five reaction cycles leads to a progressive increase in positive mesopore charge density, which gradually increases the anionic mesopore accessibility at acidic pH.