Novel coacervate vesicles as protocell model: Nano-structural insights from SANS

We propose a SANS study to elucidate the internal nanostructure of novel coacervate-based artificial cells, or protocells. Coacervates form through liquid-liquid phase separation between oppositely charged polymers in water. Although they are promising as protocell models, the lack of an enclosing membrane has led to challenges such as low stability and coalescence. Recent efforts to address these challenges have focused on converting coacervate droplets into vesicles. However, current methods in the literature rely on the addition of external chemical agents to induce electrostatic modifications. To overcome this limitation, we have developed a novel binary polymer system capable of forming stable coacervate vesicles through the application of a mechanical force, without altering the system’s chemical composition. Preliminary analyses have shown that mixing these two polymers at specific molar ratios results in the formation of collapsed nanodroplets, which subsequently self-assemble when subjected to strong mechanical agitation. SANS measurements will provide crucial insights into the internal structure of these nanodroplets and coacervate vesicles, inaccessible to other techniques, advancing our understanding of their self-assembly and potential as a novel protocell model.