Fig. 5: Controlling α-HL expression and cargo release from synthetic cells with an alternating magnetic field.
From: Magnetic activation of spherical nucleic acids enables the remote control of synthetic cells
a, Epifluorescence microscopy images of magnetically activated SNAs and in situ α-HL expression in synthetic cells with and without exposure to an AMF. Synthetic cells (visualized through the encapsulated TXR) that were not exposed to an AMF retained 2-NBDG fluorescence, indicative of minimal α-HL expression, preventing the formation of pores in the lipid bilayer and the leakage of 2-NBDG. Synthetic cells exposed to an AMF showed a significant loss of 2-NBDG and its fluorescence, representative of the in situ α-HL expression activated in the AMF. Images are representative of n = 4 biological replicates. Scale bar, 20 μm. T, temperature. b, Quantification of 2-NBDG fluorescence in the individual GUVs using a circle-detection-based image analysis script at t = 0 h and t = 4 h. Mean fluorescence intensity (full template), 44.72 grey units at t = 0 h and 20.33 grey units at t = 4 h; mean fluorescence intensity (inactive template), 49.80 grey units at t = 0 h and 41.97 grey units at t = 4 h; mean fluorescence intensity (SNA, no AMF), 38.81 grey units at t = 0 h and 40.90 grey units at t = 4 h; and mean fluorescence intensity (SNA, AMF), 17.92 grey units at t = 4 h. Datasets are representative of n = 4 biological replicates. The boxplot, notch and asterisk represent the interquartile range, median and mean fluorescence intensity, respectively.
