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Droplet-supported liquid-liquid lateral phase separation as a step to floating protein heterostructures

Author

Listed:
  • Haixu Chen

    (Harbin Institute of Technology
    Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Zhengbin Han

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Shengliang Wang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Mei Zhu

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Lei Wang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Youping Lin

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Xiaoliang Wang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Yide Zhang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Wei Wang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology
    Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Mei Li

    (University of Bristol)

  • Xiaoman Liu

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Stephen Mann

    (University of Bristol)

  • Xin Huang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Liquid-liquid phase separation plays an important role in many natural and technological processes. Herein, we implement lateral microphase separation at the surface of oil micro-droplets suspended in water to prepare a range of discrete floating protein/polymer continuous two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures with variable interfacial domain structures and dynamics. We show that gel-like domains of bovine serum albumin (BSA) co-exist with fluid-like polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) regions at the oil droplet surface to produce floating heterostructures comprising a 2D phase-separated protein mesh or an array of discrete mobile protein rafts depending on the conditions employed. Enzymes are embedded in the discontinuous BSA domains to produce droplet-supported microphase-separated 2D reaction scaffolds that can be tuned for interfacial catalysis. Taken together, our work has general implications for the structural and functional augmentation of oil droplet interfaces and contributes to the surface engineering and functionality of droplet-based micro-reactors.

Suggested Citation

  • Haixu Chen & Zhengbin Han & Shengliang Wang & Mei Zhu & Lei Wang & Youping Lin & Xiaoliang Wang & Yide Zhang & Wei Wang & Mei Li & Xiaoman Liu & Stephen Mann & Xin Huang, 2025. "Droplet-supported liquid-liquid lateral phase separation as a step to floating protein heterostructures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57141-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57141-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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