Advancements in the construction of inorganic protocells and their cell mimic and bio-catalytical applications
The bottom-up construction of artificial cell compartments,known as synthetic protocells,that can mimic the fundamental characteristics of living cells,is advancing at a rapid pace.This development not only bridges the gap between non-living and living entities but also provides crucial insights into the origin of life.Among them,inor-ganic protocells exhibit higher chemical and mechanical stability,biocompatibility,and flexibility in membrane design.Therefore,they hold great promise for research,particularly in the fields of cell biomimetics and biocataly-sis.The article first introduces the basic characteristics of inorganic protocells,including compartmentalization,membrane selectivity,and cascade metabolic networks.Then,it provides an overview of the construction methods of inorganic protocells,with a focus on three main types of compartments:inorganic colloidosomes,magnetic nanoparti-cles,and polyoxometalates.Finally,it discusses their latest applications in cell biomimetics and biocatalysis,along with an analysis of current challenges and future development prospects.