Microcapsules Containing a Biomolecular Motor for ATP Biosynthesis

TLDR

Recent advances in biology and nanotechnology have enabled the design of biomimetic materials, with ATP synthase—a rotary motor capable of continuous ATP synthesis—serving as a key component for constructing controllable cellular processes. Layer‑by‑layer assembled microcapsules act as cellular mimetics that enable active biomimetic systems and can serve as on‑demand bioenergy containers supplying ATP. The figure presents a magnified image.

Abstract

Abstract Over the past two decades, advances in modern biology and nanotechnology have enabled a rapid development in the design and building of biomimetic functional materials. ATP synthase is one of the most extensively studied molecular machines because it can be used as a rotary motor in the design of novel nanodevices and it can also continuously synthesize ATP in an artificial environment. A lot of research efforts have focused on assembling ATP synthase in biomimetic systems so that a complex cellular process can be constructed in a controllable manner. As we summarize here, layer‐by‐layer assembled microcapsules have proved to be a suitable cellular mimetic structure, which can be applied for engineering active biomimetic systems with a cellular process. An added benefit is that these assembled microcapsules can be used as bioenergy containers and thus ATP supply on demand. magnified image