Letter

Aiding Nature’s Organelles: Artificial Peroxisomes Play Their Role

Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 80, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
Nano Lett., 2013, 13 (6), pp 2875–2883
DOI: 10.1021/nl401215n
Publication Date (Web): May 6, 2013
Copyright © 2013 American Chemical Society

Abstract

Abstract Image

A major goal in medical research is to develop artificial organelles that can implant in cells to treat pathological conditions or to support the design of artificial cells. Several attempts have been made to encapsulate or entrap enzymes, proteins, or mimics in polymer compartments, but only few of these nanoreactors were active in cells, and none was proven to mimic a specific natural organelle. Here, we show the necessary steps for the development of an artificial organelle mimicking a natural organelle, the peroxisome. The system, based on two enzymes that work in tandem in polymer vesicles, with a membrane rendered permeable by inserted channel proteins was optimized in terms of natural peroxisome properties and function. The uptake, absence of toxicity, and in situ activity in cells exposed to oxidative stress demonstrated that the artificial peroxisomes detoxify superoxide radicals and H2O2 after endosomal escape. Our artificial peroxisome combats oxidative stress in cells, a factor in various pathologies (e.g., arthritis, Parkinson’s, cancer, AIDS), and offers a versatile strategy to develop other “cell implants” for cell dysfunction.

Detailed materials for AP preparation, detailed characterization techniques, additional characterization results, and additional cell experiment information. This material is available free of charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org.

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Article Views: 1,800 Times
Received 4 April 2013
Published online 6 May 2013
Published in print 12 June 2013
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