Organic/inorganic double-layered shells for multiple cytoprotection of individual living cells

Abstract

in a highly uniform nanometric (<100 nm) shell composed of organic poly(norepinephrine) and inorganic silica layers. The resulting cell-in-shell structure acquires multiple resistance against lytic enzyme, desiccation, and UV-C irradiation. In addition to the UV-C filtering effect of the double-layered shell, the biochemical responses of the encapsulated yeast are suggested to contribute to the observed UV-C tolerance. This work offers a chemical tool for cytoprotecting individual living cells under multiple stresses and also for studying biochemical behavior at the cellular level.