2007 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
A Study of an Artificial Cell as a Soft-and -wet Microchemical System
| Project/Area Number |
16310099
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Microdevices/Nanodevices
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| Research Institution | Shinshu University |
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Principal Investigator |
OKUMURA Yukihisa Shinshu University, Faculty of Engineering, Associate Professor (40243042)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2004 – 2007
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| Keywords | micro-chemical systems / artificial cells / giant liposomes / electroformation / micromanipulation / oligovesicular vesicles / lipid bilayer membrane vesicles / giant vesicles |
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| Research Abstract |
1. Formation of giant liposomes. The characteristics of giant liposomes can be regulated by more precise control of the preparation conditions. The details of electroformation of giant liposomes in terms of the position of the electrodes, the type of the applied electric field or the effect of a trace amount of an ion were studied. Also, electroformation of giant liposomes on a substrates other than the electrodes was newly found.
2. Stabilization of giant liposomes. The stability of giant liposomes can be controlled by a third membrane component. An evaluation system of strength of liposomal membrane was constructed. The stability may be enhanced by a chemically modified polymer.
3. Hybridization of giant liposomes with other materials. Efficiency of immobilization/detachment of liposomes onto/from chemically modified polymer particles may be improved.
4. Organization of giant liposomes. Spontaneous organization of giant liposomes with molecular recognition, use of micrcrsized lipid domains for positioning and organizing giant liposomes and mass formation of giant liposomes in a cell were examined.
5. Development of the protocols for the construction of micro-chemical systems. Introduction of various materials that were possibly useful for the construction of a micro-chemical system, such as a redox agents or polymer particles, into giant liposomes was demonstrated. Also, induced transformation of giant liposomes to oligovesicular vesicles, a key component for an advanced micro-chemical system, was newly found. By utilizing the transformation, oligovesicular vesicles that possess two chemically distinguished inner aqueous compartments were prepared.
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