Abstract

Precision Assembly by All-Aqueous Interfaces

Anderson Shum, Associate Professor, University of Hong Kong

Biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering and drug delivery, require controlled assembly of biomolecules, cells and small molecules. These have been achieved either by a synthetic route, or using a directing substrate. Aqueous-aqueous Interfaces, which can be formed by inducing phase separation of aqueous solution containing two or more water-soluble additives, that can be salt, polymer and biomacromolecules, such as proteins and DNAs. Their bio- and cyto-compatibility can be ensured by choosing the appropriate additives, making these all-aqueous systems particularly appealing for applications that require precise and mild handling of delicate molecules and cells. In this work, we propose the use of the interface formed between two immiscible aqueous phases. These interfaces are selective to different molecules, as they are permeable to water-soluble additives yet exhibit preferential solubility through partitioning of the additive molecules based on this affinity to the aqueous phases. We show how these interfaces can be used to control the assembly of macromolecules, as well as cells into membranes and capsules that can be used for biomedical applications that require precise configuration of the constituent components.