Exploring the chemistry of life-like objects

The design and development of synthetic cell-like entities, (protocells), has been a main focus of interest in bottom-up synthetic biology. Particularly, self-assembling micro-compartmentalised materials delineated by conjugated protein-polymer membranes, known as proteinosomes, have been shown to encapsulate gene-directed protein synthesis and shown to have collective behaviours in the form of rudimental phagocytosis-inspired interactions. However, whilst more complex forms of proteinosome-based protocells have been achieved over the past few years, their integration into a spatially interlinked network, or prototissue, capable of displaying collective behaviour and performing a specific function still remains a challenge.

Recently, it has been shown that proteinosomes can be assembled into prototissues via the use of biorthogonal groups which are integrated into the membrane, and these are able to display an enhanced response to stimuli, such as thermally-responsive contractions, due to a higher-order collective behaviour. This enhanced collective behaviour can be exploited for the rational design of functional biomimetic materials, and is a step towards more complex materials, for example the development of self-healing prototissues.