Page 55 - Plastics News Issue - January 2025
P. 55
PRODUCT NEWS
Advancing Artificial Cells with
Polymer-Based Cytoskeletons
capable of deforming under force.
Testing Mechanical Properties with Precision
To validate the performance of their artificial
cytoskeleton, the researchers employed real-
time deformability cytometry (RT-DC), a cutting-
edge technique from collaborators in Germany.
This method revealed that cells with a PDA-
based cytoskeleton exhibited increased stiff-
ness and compressive strength, comparable to
living mammalian cells. These results confirm the
ability of the artificial cytoskeleton to replicate
key mechanical properties of natural cells.
Mechanical properties of cytoskeleton-
functionalized coacervates. Unlike expensive materials requiring complex
Courtesy of Nature Chemistry fabrication, the PDA polymer is cost-effective
and compatible with standard processing tech-
rtificial cells have long been a focal point niques. This innovation not only makes advanced
in understanding biological processes, artificial cells accessible but also paves the way
Abut their ability to mimic real cells’ me- for applications in soft robotics, drug delivery,
chanical responses to forces has remained lim- and tissue regeneration.
ited. Researchers at Eindhoven University of
Technology (TU/e), in collaboration with the Max By incorporating a cytoskeleton, artificial cells
Planck Institute, have now designed a polymer- can now respond to both chemical and mechan-
based cytoskeleton that bridges this gap. This ical signals, enabling more accurate interaction
innovation, recently published in Nature Chem- studies with living cells. This breakthrough holds
istry, marks a significant step forward for both potential for modulating immune responses and
plastics engineering and biomedical research. advancing our understanding of cell mechanics
in biomedical applications.
Just as a human skeleton provides structure and
resilience, a cytoskeleton supports individual A Poignant Milestone
cells, aiding in division and mechanical response.
While natural cytoskeletons are composed of This project also honors the memory of Henk
proteins like tubulin and actin, the TU/e team Janssen, a pivotal contributor and co-corre-
developed an artificial alternative using polydia- sponding author who passed away during the
cetylene (PDA). This polymer closely mirrors the study. Source – Plastics Engineering
properties of a natural cytoskeleton, forming fi-
brous structures that are comparable in size and
January 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 55
