Fig. 7: Readouts to synthetic cells and living systems.
From: Recent advances in coacervate protocells from passive catalysts to chemically programmable systems
a Synthetic-to-synthetic readout. GOx (glucose oxidase) inside a proteinosome (P) converts glucose to a diffusible intermediate (H₂O₂); the signal reaches the green trigger droplet CT and activates/releases a protease; the protease acts on the red killer droplet CK to yield the active state CK*. Reproduced with permission85. Copyright 2019, Wiley-VCH GmbH. b Cell-level, light-gated ROS readout. Phase-separated spiropyran droplets are taken up by cells and are OFF (gray). Visible light switches them ON (red), causing ROS generation inside cells; the ROS turn a common non-fluorescent probe (DCFH-DA) into green fluorescence and damage/kill the cancer cells. UV light resets the droplets OFF, halting ROS so cells survive. Thus, light gates the ON/OFF states, with readouts in fluorescence and cell viability. Reproduced with permission89. Copyright 2025, Wiley-VCH GmbH. c Bacterial interface readout. A structured polysaccharide wall excludes bacteria at baseline; dextranase degrades/reconfigures the wall, allowing selective sequestration and sterilization of E. coli. Reproduced with permission91. Copyright 2023, American Chemical Society. d Tissue-level readout. A concentric, three-layer “prototissue” immobilizes GOx-CVs (outer), HRP-CVs (middle), and CAT-CVs (inner) (GOx glucose oxidase, HRP horseradish peroxidase, CAT catalase, CVs coacervate vesicles). With glucose and hydroxyurea, diffusive coupling across layers produces nitric NO near the lumen; downstream, platelet activation decreases and clotting slows. Reproduced with permission93. Copyright 2022, Springer Nature.
