Self-regulating colloidal co-assemblies that accelerate their own destruction via chemo-structural feedback
Date issued
Authors
Editors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
License
Abstract
Biological self-assemblies self- and cross-regulate each other via chemical reaction networks (CRNs) and feedback. Although artificial transient self-assemblies have been realized via activation/deactivation CRNs, the transient structures themselves do mostly not engage in the CRN. We introduce a rational design approach for chemo-structural feedback, and present a transient colloidal co-assembly system, where the formed co-assemblies accelerate their destruction autonomously. We achieve this by immobilizing enzymes of a deactivating acid-producing enzymatic cascade on pH-switchable microgels that can form co-assemblies at high pH. Since the enzyme partners are immobilized on individual microgels, the co-assembled state brings them close enough for enhanced acid generation. The amplified deactivator production (acid) leads to an almost two-fold reduction in the lifetime of the transiently formed pH-state. Our study thus introduces versatile mechanisms for chemo-structural feedback.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Published in
Angewandte Chemie : International Edition, 61, 19, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Weinheim, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202201573