Polymeric Giant Unilamellar Vesicles Support Longevity of Native Nuclei in Protocells.

Abstract

Protocells offer a versatile material for dissecting cellular processes and developing simplified biomimetic systems by combining biological components with synthetic ones. However, a gap exists between the integrity and complex functionality of native organelles such as nuclei, and bottom-up strategies reducing cellular functions within a synthetic environment. Here, this gap is bridged by incorporating native nuclei into polymeric giant unilamellar vesicles (pGUVs) using double-emulsion microfluidics. It is shown that the nuclei retain their morphology and nuclear envelope integrity, facilitating the import of co-encapsulated peptide-based multicompartment micelles (MCMs) via nuclear localization signals (NLS). Importantly, it is demonstrated that the nuclear import machinery remains functional inside the protocells, and by enriching the GUV interior with nuclear import-promoting factors, the delivery efficiency of NLS-MCMs significantly increases. The findings reveal that nucleated protocells preserve nuclear function and integrity for extended periods, providing a new platform for studying nuclear processes in a simplified, yet biologically relevant, environment. This approach opens avenues for creating advanced biohybrid materials, offering opportunities to investigate organelle behavior and their interactions with cellular components in greater detail. The findings establish a foundation for high-throughput applications in synthetic biology and contribute valuable insights into sustaining complex cellular functions in engineered systems.