Chemical Communication and Protocell‐Matrix Dynamics in Segregated Colloidosome Micro‐Colonies

Abstract

AbstractDespite an emerging catalogue of collective behaviours in communities of homogeneously distributed cell‐like objects, microscale protocell colonies with spatially segregated populations have received minimal attention. Here, we use microfluidics to fabricate Janus‐like calcium alginate hydrogel microspheres with spatially partitioned populations of enzyme‐containing inorganic colloidosomes and investigate their potential as integrated platforms for domain‐mediated chemical communication and programmable protocell‐matrix dynamics. Diffusive chemical signalling within the segregated communities gives rise to increased initial enzyme kinetics compared with a homogeneous distribution of protocells. We employ competing enzyme‐mediated hydrogel crosslinking and decrosslinking reactions in different domains of the partitioned colonies to undertake selective expulsion of a specific protocell population from the community. Our results offer new possibilities for the design and construction of spatially organized cytomimetic consortia capable of endogenous chemical processing and protocell‐environment interactivity.