Zipping of Synthetic Assemblies Equipped to Produce Multifunctional Clusters for Bio-Applications - NCCR MSE

Zipping of Synthetic Assemblies Equipped to Produce Multifunctional Clusters for Bio-Applications

Contrary to the macroscopic world, the engineering of integrated systems at molecular level imposes a complex scenario of requirements, especially for assembling biotic and abiotic components with the dual aim; to preserve the specific functionality of each entity, and to induce new functionalities and properties serving a final desired application.

A variety of molecular entities such as membranes, self-adapting vesicles, and biological molecules (enzymes, proteins, mimics) can be combined to design hybrid supramolecular assemblies with multifunctionality and emerging properties. Our aim is to organize nanometer sized assemblies, such as polymer vesicles, into clusters/networks with controllable size and tunable biological properties.

We rely on molecular recognition interactions, as for example on DNA hybridization to interconnect vesicles. In addition, we use the non-hybridized single strand-DNA as a molecular anchor to bind the clusters selectively to the cell surface. Each polymer vesicle can be tailored to include biologically relevant enzymes, substrates, active molecules and membrane pores to allow communication between the compartments and cascade reactions inside. Such clusters/networks will be evaluated in vitro and in vivo to establish their interactions with cells, their stability and functionality for desired bio-applications.

Collaborations within NCCR with other research groups with competences in polymer chemistry, inorganic chemistry, molecular biology, metabolic engineering and characterization methods for complex systems/reactions will be essential for a complete design and characterization of such hybrid systems. Our platform represents an important step for development of molecular factories because it has a high potential for biological applications, such as protein therapy or active templates for regenerative medicine.

Publications

V. Mihali, M. Skowicki, D. Messmer, C. G. Palivan “Clusters of polymersomes and Janus nanoparticles hierarchically self-organized and controlled by DNA hybridization“ Nano Today 2023. [DOI]
O. M. Eggenberger, P. Jaśko, S. Tarvirdipour, C. Schoenenberger, C. G. Palivan “Advances in biohybridized planar polymer membranes and membrane‐like matrices“ Helv. Chim. Acta 2023. [DOI]
M. S. Muthwill, P. Kong, I. A. Dinu, D. Necula, C. John, C. G. Palivan “Tailoring Polymer-Based Nanoassemblies for Stimuli-Responsive Theranostic Applications“ Macromol. Biosci. 2022. [DOI]
M. Bina, A. Krywko-Cendrowska, D. Daubian, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Multicomponent Copolymer Planar Membranes with Nanoscale Domain Separation“ Nano Lett. 2022. [DOI]
S. Tarvirdipour, M. Skowicki, C. Schoenenberger, L. E. Kapinos, R. Y. H. Lim, Y. BenensonC. G. Palivan “A self-assembling peptidic platform to boost the cellular uptake and nuclear delivery of oligonucleotides“ Biomater. Sci. 2022. [DOI]
S. Di Leone, M. Kyropoulou, J. Köchlin, R. Wehr, W. P. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Tailoring a Solvent-Assisted Method for Solid-Supported Hybrid Lipid–Polymer Membranes“ Langmuir 2022. [DOI]
M. Korpidou, V. Maffeis, I. A. Dinu, C. Schoenenberger, W. P. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Inverting glucuronidation of hymecromone in situ by catalytic nanocompartments“ J. Mater. Chem. B 2022. [DOI]
L. Heuberger, M. Korpidou, O. M. Eggenberger, M. Kyropoulou, C. G. Palivan “Current Perspectives on Synthetic Compartments for Biomedical Applications“ Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022. [DOI]
X. Huang, D. Hürlimann, H. T. Spanke, D. Wu, M. Skowicki, I. A. Dinu, E. R. Dufresne, C. G. Palivan “Cell-Derived Vesicles with Increased Stability and On-Demand Functionality by Equipping Their Membrane with a Cross-Linkable Copolymer“ Advanced Healthcare Materials 2022. [DOI]
L. Zartner, V. Maffeis, C. Schoenenberger, I. A. Dinu, C. G. Palivan “Membrane protein channels equipped with a cleavable linker for inducing catalysis inside nanocompartments“ -11-2021 J. Mater. Chem. B 2021. [DOI]
C. E. Meyer, C. Schoenenberger, R. P. Wehr, D. Wu, C. G. Palivan “Artificial Melanogenesis by Confining Melanin/Polydopamine Production inside Polymersomes“ Macromol. Biosci. 2021. [DOI]
V. Maffeis, A. Belluati, I. Craciun, D. Wu, S. Novak, C. Schoenenberger, C. G. Palivan “Clustering of catalytic nanocompartments for enhancing an extracellular non-native cascade reaction“ Chem. Sci. 2021. [DOI]
S. Tarvirdipour, M. Skowicki, C. Schoenenberger, C. G. Palivan “Peptide-Assisted Nucleic Acid Delivery Systems on the Rise“ Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021. [DOI]
S. Di Leone, J. Vallapurackal, S. Yorulmaz Avsar, M. Kyropolou, T. R. WardC. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Expanding the Potential of the Solvent-Assisted Method to Create Bio-Interfaces from Amphiphilic Block Copolymers“ Biomacromolecules 2021. [DOI]
C. E. Meyer, C. Schoenenberger, J. Liu, I. Craciun, C. G. Palivan “DNA-Tethered Polymersome Clusters as Nanotheranostic Platform“ Chimia 2021. [DOI]
M. Kyropoulou, S. Yorulmaz Avsar, C. Schoenenberger, C. G. Palivan, W. P. Meier “From spherical compartments to polymer films: exploiting vesicle fusion to generate solid supported thin polymer membranes“ Nanoscale 2021. [DOI]
E. C. dos Santos, A. Belluati, D. Necula, D. Scherrer, C. E. Meyer, R. P. Wehr, E. LörtscherC. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Combinatorial Strategy for Studying Biochemical Pathways in Double Emulsion Templated Cell-Sized Compartments“ Adv. Mater. 2020. [DOI]
A. Belluati, I. Craciun, C. G. Palivan “Bioactive Catalytic Nanocompartments Integrated into Cell Physiology and Their Amplification of a Native Signaling Cascade“ ACS Nano 2020. [DOI]
L. Zartner, M. S. Muthwill, I. A. Dinu, C. Schoenenberger, C. G. Palivan “The Rise of Bio-Inspired Polymer Compartments Responding to Pathology-Related Signals“ J. Mater. Chem. B 2020. [DOI]
L. Zartner, M. Garni, I. Craciun, T. Einfalt, C. G. Palivan “How Can Giant Plasma Membrane Vesicles Serve as a Cellular Model for Controlled Transfer of Nanoparticles?“ Biomacromolecules 2020. [DOI]
A. Belluati, S. Thamboo, A. Najer, V. Maffeis, C. von Planta, I. Craciun, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Multicompartment Polymer Vesicles with Artificial Organelles for Signal-Triggered Cascade Reactions Including Cytoskeleton Formation“ Adv. Funct. Mater. 2020. [DOI]
C. E. Meyer, S. Abram, I. Craciun, C. G. Palivan “Biomolecule–polymer hybrid compartments: combining the best of both worlds“ Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2020. [DOI]
E. C. dos Santos, A. Angelini, D. Hürlimann, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Giant Polymer Compartments for Confined Reactions“ Chemistry 2020. [DOI]
S. Di Leone, S. Yorulmaz Avsar, A. Belluati, R. Wehr, C. G. Palivan, W. P. Meier “Polymer-Lipid Hybrid Membranes as a Model Platform to Drive Membrane-Cytochrome c Interaction and Peroxidase-like Activity“ J. Phys. Chem. B 2020. [DOI]
J. Liu, I. Craciun, A. Belluati, D. Wu, S. Sieber, T. Einfalt, D. Witzigmann, M. Chami, J. Huwyler, C. G. Palivan “DNA-Directed Arrangement of Soft Synthetic Compartments and Their Behavior in Vitro and in Vivo“ Nanoscale 2020. [DOI]
A. Krywko-Cendrowska, S. di Leone, M. Bina, S. Yorulmaz-Avsar, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Recent Advances in Hybrid Biomimetic Polymer-Based Films: from Assembly to Applications“ Polymers 2020. [DOI]
C. E. Meyer, J. Liu, I. Craciun, D. Wu, H. Wang, M. Xie, M. FusseneggerC. G. Palivan “Segregated Nanocompartments Containing Therapeutic Enzymes and Imaging Compounds within DNA-Zipped Polymersome Clusters for Advanced Nanotheranostic Platform“ Small 2020. [DOI]
S. Rigo, M. Kyropoulou, C. Schoenenberger, C. G. Palivan “Battling Bacteria with Free and Surface-Immobilized Polymeric Nanostructures“ Racing for the Surface: Pathogenesis of Implant Infection and Advanced Antimicrobial Strategies 2020. [DOI]
S. Rigo, D. Hürlimann, L. Marot, M. Malmsten, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Decorating Nanostructured Surfaces with Antimicrobial Peptides to Efficiently Fight Bacteria“ ACS Appl. Bio Mater. 2020. [DOI]
C. Zelmer, L. P. Zweifel, L. E. Kapinos, I. Craciun, Z. P. Güven, C. G. Palivan, R. Y. H. Lim “Organelle-specific targeting of polymersomes into the cell nucleus“ Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2020. [DOI]
T. Einfalt, M. Garni, D. Witzigmann, S. Sieber, N. Baltisberger, J. Huwyler, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Bioinspired Molecular Factories with Architecture and In Vivo Functionalities as Cell Mimics“ Adv. Sci. 2020. [DOI]
A. Belluati, V. Mikhalevich, S. Yorulmaz Avsar, D. Daubian, I. Craciun, M. Chami, W. P. Meier, C. G. Palivan “How do the properties of amphiphilic polymer membranes influence the functional insertion of peptide pores?“ Biomacromolecules 2019. [DOI]
M. Kyropoulou, S. DiLeone, A. Lanzilotto, E. C. Constable, C. E. Housecroft, W. P. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Porphyrin Containing Polymersomes with Enhanced ROS Generation Efficiency: In Vitro Evaluation“ Macromol. Biosci. 2019. [DOI]
V. Chimisso, V. Maffeis, D. Hürlimann, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Self-Assembled Polymeric Membranes and Nanoassemblies on Surfaces: Preparation, Characterization, and Current Applications“ Macromol. Biosci. 2019. [DOI]
S. Thamboo, A. Najer, A. Belluati, C. von Planta, D. Wu, I. Craciun, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Mimicking Cellular Signaling Pathways within Synthetic Multicompartment Vesicles with Triggered Enzyme Activity and Induced Ion Channel Recruitment“ Adv. Funct. Mater. 2019. [DOI]
A. Belluati, I. Craciun, C. E. Meyer, S. Rigo, C. G. Palivan “Enzymatic reactions in polymeric compartments: nanotechnology meets nature“ Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 2019. [DOI]
S. Yorulmaz Avsar, M. Kyropoulou, S. Di Leone, C. Schoenenberger, W. P. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Biomolecules Turn Self-Assembling Amphiphilic Block Co-polymer Platforms Into Biomimetic Interfaces“ Front. Chem. 2019, 6:645. [DOI]
M. Garni, R. Wehr, S. Yorulmaz Avsar, C. John, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Polymer membranes as templates for bio-applications ranging from artificial cells to active surfaces“ Eur. Polym. J. 2018. [DOI]
S. Rigo, G. Gunkel-Grabole, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Surfaces with Dual Functionality through Specific Coimmobilization of Self-Assembled Polymeric Nanostructures“ 2018. [DOI]
A. Belluati, I. Craciun, J. Liu, C. G. Palivan “Nanoscale Enzymatic Compartments in Tandem Support Cascade Reactions in Vitro“ Biomacromolecules 2018. [DOI]
M. Garni, T. Einfalt, R. Goers, C. G. Palivan, W. P. Meier “Live follow-up of enzymatic reactions inside the cavities of synthetic giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) equipped with membrane proteins mimicking cell architecture“ ACS Synth. Biol. 2018. [DOI]
H. C. Schmidt, X. Guo, P. U. Richard, M. Neuburger, C. G. PalivanO. Wenger “Mixed-valent molecular triple-deckers“ Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018. [DOI]
C. L. Draghici, V. Mikhalevich, G. Gunkel-Grabole, J. Kowal, W. P. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Biomimetic planar Polymer Membranes decorated with Enzymes as Functional Surfaces“ Langmuir 2018. [DOI]
P. U. Richard, I. Craciun, J. Gaitzsch, L. Weiner, C. G. Palivan “Delivery of ROS Generating Anthraquinones Using Reduction‐responsive Peptide‐based Nanoparticles“ Helv. Chim. Acta 2018. [DOI]
A. Najer, C. G. Palivan, H. Beck, W. Meier “Challenges in Malaria Management and a Glimpse at Some Nanotechnological Approaches“ Infectious Diseases and Nanomedicine III 2018. [DOI]
T. Einfalt, D. Witzigmann, C. Edlinger, S. Sieber, R. Goers, A. Najer, M. Spulber, O. Onaca-Fischer, J. Huwyler, C. G. Palivan “Biomimetic artificial organelles with in vitro and in vivo activity triggered by reduction in microenvironment“ Nat. Commun. 2018. [DOI]
S. Rigo, C. Cai, G. Gunkel-Grabole, L. Maurizi, X. Zhang, J. Xu, C. G. Palivan “Nanoscience-Based Strategies to Engineer Antimicrobial Surfaces“ Adv. Sci. 2018. [DOI]
I. Craciun, A. S. Denes, G. Gunkel-Grabole, A. Belluati, C. G. Palivan “Surfaces decorated with polymeric nanocompartments for pH reporting“ Helv. Chim. Acta 2018. [DOI]
A. Lanzilotto, M. Kyropoulou, E. C. Constable, C. E. Housecroft, W. P. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Porphyrin-polymer nanocompartments: singlet oxygen generation and antimicrobial activity“ 2017. [DOI]
C. Edlinger, T. Einfalt, M. Spulber, A. Car, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Biomimetic Strategy To Reversibly Trigger Functionality of Catalytic Nanocompartments by the Insertion of pH-Responsive Biovalves“ Nano Lett. 2017. [DOI]
A. Larrañaga, M. Lomora, J. R. Sarasua, C. G. Palivan, A. Pandit “Polymer capsules as micro-/nanoreactors for therapeutic applications: Current strategies to control membrane permeability“ Prog. Mater. Sci. 2017. [DOI]
V. Mikhalevich, I. Craciun, M. Kyropoulou, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Amphiphilic peptide self-assembly: Expansion to hybrid materials“ Biomacromolecules 2017. [DOI]
G. Gunkel-Grabole, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Nanostructured Surfaces through Immobilization of Self-Assembled Polymer Architectures Using Thiol–Ene Chemistry“ Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2017, 302:1600363. [DOI]
M. Garni, S. Thamboo, C. Schoenenberger, C. G. Palivan “Biopores/membrane proteins in synthetic polymer membranes“ Biochim. Biophys. Acta, Biomembr. 2017, 1859:619-38. [DOI]
I. Craciun, G. Gunkel-Grabole, A. Belluati, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Expanding the potential of MRI contrast agents through multifunctional polymeric nanocarriers“ Nanomedicine 2017, 12:811-17. [DOI]
S. MatileC. G. Palivan “Strain-Promoted Thiol-Mediated Cellular Uptake of Giant Substrates: Liposomes and Polymersomes“ Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56:2947-50. [DOI]
J. Liu, V. Postupalenko, S. Lörcher, D. Wu, M. Chami, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “DNA-Mediated Self-Organization of Polymeric Nanocompartments Leads to Interconnected Artificial Organelles“ Nano Lett. 2016:DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b03430. [DOI] [More Information]
D. Vasquez, T. Einfalt, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Asymmetric Triblock Copolymer Nanocarriers for Controlled Localization and pH-Sensitive Release of Proteins“ Langmuir 2016, 32:10235-43. [DOI]
S. J. Sigg, F. Santini, A. Najer, P. U. Richard, W. P. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Nanoparticle-based highly sensitive MRI contrast agents with enhanced relaxivity in reductive milieu“ Chem. Commun. 2016, 52:9937-40. [DOI]
A. Najer, D. Wu, M. G. Nussbaumer, G. Schwertz, A. Schwab, M. C. Witschel, A. Schäfer, F. Diederich, M. Rottmann, C. G. Palivan, H. Beck, W. Meier “An amphiphilic graft copolymer-based nanoparticle platform for reduction-responsive anticancer and antimalarial drug delivery“ Nanoscale 2016:DOI: 10.1039/C6NR04290B. [DOI]
Y. Cotelle, N. Chuard, S. Lascano, V. Lebrun, R. Wehlauch, N. Bohni, S. Lörcher, V. Postupalenko, S. Reddy, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan, K. Gademann, T. R. WardS. Matile “Interfacing Functional Systems“ Chimia 2016, 6:418. [DOI]
C. E. HousecroftC. G. Palivan, K. Gademann, W. Meier, M. Calame, V. Mikhalevich, X. Zhang, E. Piel, M. Szponarski, A. Wiesler, A. Lanzilotto, E. C. Constable, A. Fanget, R. Stoop “‘Active surfaces’ as Possible Functional Systems in Detection and Chemical (Bio) Reactivity“ Chimia 2016, 6:402. [DOI]
M. Garni, T. Einfalt, M. Lomora, A. Car, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Artificial Organelles: Reactions inside Protein–Polymer Supramolecular Assemblies“ Chimia 2016, 6:424. [DOI]
V. Mikhalevich, C. Zelmer, A. Car, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Bio-inspired Polymer Membranes“ Bio-inspired Polymers 2016, 22:221-58. [DOI]
I. A. Dinu, J. T. Duskey, A. Car, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Engineered non-toxic cationic nanocarriers with photo-triggered slow-release properties“ Polym. Chem. 2016, 7:3451. [DOI]
A. Najer, S. Thamboo, C. G. Palivan, H. Beck, W. Meier “Giant Host Red Blood Cell Membrane Mimicking Polymersomes Bind Parasite Proteins and Malaria Parasites“ Chimia 2016, 4:288. [DOI]
S. J. Sigg, V. Postupalenko, J. T. Duskey, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Stimuli-Responsive Codelivery of Oligonucleotides and Drugs by Self-Assembled Peptide Nanoparticles“ Biomacromolecules 2016, 17:935-45. [DOI]
X. Zhang, M. Lomora, T. Einfalt, W. Meier, N. Klein, D. Schneider, C. G. Palivan “Active surfaces engineered by immobilizing protein-polymer nanoreactors for selectively detecting sugar alcohols“ Biomaterials 2016, 89:79. [DOI]
G. Gunkel-Grabole, A. Car, V. V. Naik, L. Marot, G. Ferk, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “PEG Brushes on Porous, PDMS-Coated Surfaces and Their Interaction with Carbon Dioxide“ Macromol. Chem. Phys. 2016, 217:966. [DOI]
H. C. Schmidt, M. Spulber, M. Neuburger, C. G. Palivan, M. Meuwly, O. Wenger “Charge Transfer Pathways in Three Isomers of Naphthalene-Bridged Organic Mixed Valence Compounds“ J. Org. Chem. 2016, 81:595-602. [DOI]
C. G. Palivan, R. Goers, A. Najer, X. Zhang, A. Car, W. Meier “Bioinspired polymer vesicles and membranes for biological and medical applications“ Chem. Soc. Rev. 2015, 45:377. [DOI]
A. Najer, S. Thamboo, J. T. Duskey, W. Meier, C. G. Palivan “Analysis of Molecular Parameters Determining the Antimalarial Activity of Polymer-Based Nanomimics“ Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2015, 36:1923. [DOI]
T. Einfalt, R. Goers, I. A. Dinu, A. Najer, M. Spulber, O. Onaca-Fischer, C. G. Palivan “Stimuli-triggered activity of nano reactors by biomimetic engineering polymer membranes“ Nano Lett. 2015, 15:7596. [DOI] [More Information]
M. Lomora, I. A. Dinu, F. Itel, S. Rigo, M. Spulber, C. G. Palivan “Does Membrane Thickness Affect the Transport of Selective Ions Mediated by Ionophores in Synthetic Membranes?“ Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2015, 36:1929. [DOI]
J. Liu, V. Postupalenko, J. T. Duskey, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier, V. Mikhalevich “pH-Triggered Reversible Multiple Protein-Polymer Conjugation Based on Molecular Recognition“ J. Chem. Phys. B. 2015, 119:12066. [DOI]
T. Einfalt, G. Gunkel-Grabole, M. Spulber, A. Najer, C. G. Palivan “Supramolecular Architectures: Supramolecular Architectures from Self-Assembled Copolymers“ CRC Concise Encyclopedia of Nanotechnology 2015:1055-72. [DOI]
G. Tsiavaliaris, F. Itel, K. Hedfalk, S. Al-Samir, W. P. Meier, G. Gros, V. Endeward “Low CO2 permeability of cholesterol-containing liposomes detected by stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy“ FASEB J. 2015, 29:1780. [DOI]
F. Itel, A. Najer, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Dynamics of Membrane Proteins within Synthetic Polymer Membranes with Large Hydrophobic Mismatch“ Nano Lett. 2015, 15:3871. [DOI] [More Information] [Artikel in ChimieXtra]
J. Kowal, D. Wu, V. MikhalevichC. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Hybrid Polymer–Lipid Films as Platforms for Directed Membrane Protein Insertion“ Langmuir 2015, 31:4868. [DOI]
M. Lomora, M. Garni, F. Itel, P. Tanner, M. Spulber, C. G. Palivan “Polymersomes with engineered ion selective permeability as stimuli-responsive nanocompartments with preserved architecture“ Biomaterials 2015, 53:406. [DOI]
M. Lomora, I. A. Dinu, C. G. Palivan “Selective ion-permeable membranes by insertion of biopores into polymersomes“ Phys. Chem. 2015, 17:15538. [DOI]
M. Spulber, P. Baumann, J. Liu, C. G. Palivan “Ceria loaded nanoreactors: a nontoxic superantioxidant system with high stability and efficacy“ Nanoscale 2015, 7:1411. [DOI]
G. Gunkel-Grabole, S. Sigg, M. Lomora, S. Lörcher, C. G. Palivan “Polymeric 3D nano-architectures for transport and delivery of therapeutically relevant biomacromolecules“ Biomater. Sci. 2015, 2:25. [DOI]
A. Najer, D. Wu, A. Bieri, F. Brand, C. G. Palivan, H. P. Beck, W. Meier “Nanomimics of Host Cell Membranes Block Invasion and Expose Invasive Malaria Parasites“ ACS Nano 2014, 8:12560. [DOI] [More Information]
D. Wu, M. Spulber, F. Itel, M. Chami, T. Pfohl, C. G. Palivan, W. Meier “Effect of Molecular Parameters on the Architecture and Membrane Properties of 3D Assemblies of Amphiphilic Copolymers“ Macromolecules 2014, 47:5060-69. [DOI]
P. Baumann, M. Spulber, I. A. Dinu, C. G. Palivan “Cellular Trojan Horse Based Polymer Nanoreactors with Light-sensitive Activity“ J. Phys. Chem. B 2014, 118:9361. [DOI]