Harnessing light and synthetic cells: a bridge to novel frontiers in water pollution remediation

In this recent period of escalating environmental challenges, water pollution stands out as a critical issue. The reliance on microbial processes represents the pillar of wastewater treatments, while accompanied by several drawbacks. The present Ph.D. work addresses pressing environmental through the development of innovative engineered liposomal carriers, known as "Smart Cells". These systems display selective permeability of the membrane upon external stimuli, standing as prototype models that lay the groundwork for the controlled release of active reagents for pollution remediation and encapsulation of contaminants in wastewaters. These features were tackled by leveraging tailored artificial amphiphiles that combine stimuli-responsive, fluorescence, and catalytic features. Azobenzene photoswitches were incorporated as light-responsive unit, enabling reversible control over membrane permeability. The incorporation of these amphiphiles in vesicles resulted in cell-like behaviors in response to light irradiation, alongside the formation of transient pores. The efforts addressed in this topic also extend to photo-pharmacological applications, focusing on combating tuberculosis. In this respect, the synthesis of crucial building blocks in the development of novel trehalose-decorated amphiphiles was aimed at modulating the membrane permeability in Mycobacteria to promote drug permeation. On the whole, these developments underscored the versatility and potential of "Smart Cells" systems for tackling complex environmental and pharmacological challenges, providing a promising platform for future applications in pollution remediation, advanced membrane dynamics studies, vesicular catalysis, and controllable drug delivery.