Bristol team advances protocell research

Micro-actuators are devices that convert signals and energy into mechanically driven movement in small-scale structures. Used in a range of advanced microscale technologies, they usually rely on external changes in bulk properties such as pH and temperature to trigger repeatable mechanical transformations.

The new study, published in Nature Chemistry, highlights a novel approach using internal changes as the trigger for signal-based movement. 

Researchers from Bristol’s School of Chemistry, the Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology (MPBC) and the Bristol Centre for Protolife Research said they successfully embedded tens of thousands of artificial cell-like entities (protocells) within helical filaments of a polysaccharide hydrogel to produce tiny free-standing springs that are chemically powered from within.

Moving hydrogels have potential for soft robotics and artificial muscles

Soft robotics actuators are "fast as a hummingbird, strong as an elephant"

The team loaded the protocells with urease, an enzyme that generates carbonate ions when supplied with urea, then captured the artificial cells in a twisting jet of calcium alginate hydrogel using a home-built microfluidic device.