Multifaceted cell mimicry in coacervate-based synthetic cells

Alexander F Mason; Jan C M van Hest

doi:10.1042/ETLS20190094

Multifaceted cell mimicry in coacervate-based synthetic cells

Emerg Top Life Sci. 2019 Nov 11;3(5):567-571. doi: 10.1042/ETLS20190094.

Authors

Alexander F Mason^{1

2}, Jan C M van Hest^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
² Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

PMID: 33523170
DOI: 10.1042/ETLS20190094

Abstract

Cells, the discrete living systems that comprise all life on Earth, are a boundless source of inspiration and motivation for many researchers in the natural sciences. In the field of bottom-up synthetic cells, researchers seek to create multifaceted, self-assembled, chemical systems that mimic the properties and behaviours of natural life. In this perspective, we will describe the relatively recent application of complex coacervates to synthetic cells, and how they have been used to model an expanding range of biologically relevant phenomena. Furthermore, we will explore the unique advantages and disadvantages of coacervate-based synthetic cells, and their potential impact on the field in the years to come.

Keywords: biomimicry; coacervates; self-assembly; synthetic cells.