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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 18: Biomaterials and Biopolymers (joint session BP/CPP)
BP 18.3: Vortrag
Mittwoch, 20. März 2024, 10:15–10:30, H 1028
Characterizing bursting spider silk coacervates with micropipette aspiration — •Isabell Tunn1, Grégory Beaune2, Jennifer Tersteegen1, Jaakko V.I. Timonen2, Francoise Brochard-Wyart3, and Markus B. Linder1 — 1Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, Finland — 2Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Finland — 3Institute Curie, Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, France
Hollow or core-shell coacervates composed of biomolecules have been reported to serve essential intracellular functions. Recently, numerous hollow and core-shell coacervates have been bioengineered in vitro opening new avenues for their application as drug delivery systems or vessels for chemical reactions. However, the relationship between the molecular structure and the biophysical properties of these coacervates remains largely unexplored. Thus, we characterized the biophysical properties of a set of five bioengineered spider silk protein coacervates using micropipette aspiration. Upon aspiration coacervates can burst like vesicles, demonstrating that protein forms a dense layer (shell) on the surface of the coacervate. To analyse the aspiration and bursting of the hollow coacervates we developed a model, which allows to calculate the surface and bulk viscosity and to estimate the thickness and viscosity of the shell. We anticipate that our model will aid in understanding the formation and properties of hollow coacervates and will facilitate their use as drug delivery systems, reaction vessels as well as material building blocks.
Keywords: Micropipette aspiration; Bursting coacervate; Spider silk protein; Condensate