Coacervate Vesicles as Adaptive Platforms for Synthetic Biology and Smart Materials

Abstract

Coacervate vesicles represent a versatile and emerging class of protocells that combine the dynamic properties of coacervate microdroplets with the structural advantages of membrane-bound systems. Leveraging features such as selective molecular uptake, enhanced reactivity, and dynamicity, they offer a promising platform for both fundamental research and technological applications in synthetic biology. In this concept, we introduce a classification of coacervate vesicles based on their formation mechanisms and energetic landscapes, highlighting how their formation routes give rise to protocells with distinct structural and dynamic properties. Furthermore, we explore how these features translate into potential applications, including artificial life-like systems, complex communication networks, adaptive soft materials, and smart drug-delivery platforms. While the field is still in its infancy, the simplicity, versatility, and programmability of coacervate vesicles position them as a powerful framework for engineering next-generation synthetic life-like systems.