Autonomic Behaviors in Lipase‐Active Oil Droplets

Up and down: A new protocell model based on enzyme‐powered oil droplets capable of self‐consumption, feedstock regeneration, oscillatory temperature‐guided contraction, and reversible buoyancy‐induced motility is described as a step towards autonomic behavior in life‐like microscale objects.

Abstract

Developing self‐fueled micro‐reactor droplets with programmable autonomic behaviors provides a step towards smart liquid dispersions comprising motile microscale objects. Herein, we prepare aqueous suspensions of lipase‐coated oil globules comprising a mixture of a triglyceride substrate (tributyrin, 1,2,3‐tributylglycerol) and a low‐density oil (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) and describe a range of active behaviors based on controlled enzyme‐mediated consumption of individual droplets under non‐equilibrium conditions. Encapsulation of the lipase‐coated lipid/PDMS droplets into a model protocell as energy‐rich sub‐compartments is demonstrated as an internalized mechanism for activating protocell buoyancy. Taken together, our results highlight opportunities for the regulation of autonomic behavior in enzyme‐powered oil droplets and provide a new platform for increasing the functionality and energization of synthetic protocells.

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