Kim, Bong Kyu Dong-Hyun Kang Woo, JunHyuk Wooseung Yoon Ryu, Hyunil Han, Kyung reem Chung, Seok Kim, Tae Song 2024-05-29T02:30:07Z 2024-05-29T02:30:07Z 2024-05-29 2024-05 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/149926 Membrane fusion, merging two lipid bilayers, is crucial for fabricating artificial membrane structures. Over the past 40 years, in contrast to precise and controllable membrane fusion in-vivo through specific molecules such as SNAREs, controlling the fusion in-vitro while fabricating artificial membrane structures in physiological ionic solutions without fusion proteins has been a challenge, becoming a significant obstacle to practical applications. We present an approach consisting of an electric field and a few kPa hydraulic pressure as an additional variable to physically control the fusion, enabling tuning of the shape and size of the 3D freestanding lipid bilayers in physiological ionic solutions. Mechanical model analysis reveals that pressure-induced parallel/normal tensions enhance fusion among membranes in the microwell. In-vitro peptide-membrane assay, mimicking vesicular transport via pressure-assisted fusion, and stability of 38 days with in-chip pressure control via pore size-regulated hydrogel highlight the potential for diverse biological applications. English Nature Publishing Group Control of artificial membrane fusion in physiological ionic solutions beyond the limits of electroformation Article 10.1038/s41467-024-48875-0 1 Nature Communications, v.15, no.1 Nature Communications 15 1 Y scie scopus 001234660500029 Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology - Other Topics Article GIANT VESICLES MECHANISMS SIZE VESICLE FUSION