Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42506692›Full record

ArticleJournal of the American Chemical Society2026

Patchy Membrane-Directed Multiphase Complex Coacervation.

Siwen Sun, Nadia Erkamp, Sander G A M Huisman, Alexander B Cook, Arjan Hazegh Nikroo, Zhuping Yin, Jianhong Wang, Madelief A M Verwiel, Jan C M van Hest

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Siwen SunBio-Organic Chemistry, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MBEindhoven, The Netherlands.
Nadia ErkampBio-Organic Chemistry, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MBEindhoven, The Netherlands.
Sander G A M HuismanBio-Organic Chemistry, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MBEindhoven, The Netherlands.
Alexander B CookBio-Organic Chemistry, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MBEindhoven, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-5005-1039
Arjan Hazegh NikrooBio-Organic Chemistry, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MBEindhoven, The Netherlands.
Zhuping YinBio-Organic Chemistry, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MBEindhoven, The Netherlands.
Jianhong WangBio-Organic Chemistry, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MBEindhoven, The Netherlands.
Madelief A M VerwielBio-Organic Chemistry, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MBEindhoven, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-4445-937X
Jan C M van HestBio-Organic Chemistry, Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MBEindhoven, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-7973-2404

Funding

China Scholarship Council NAHORIZON EUROPE European Research Council 101141866Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap 024.005.020Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap 1420578Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap SPI 72-259
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Multiphase separation is a key feature in biomolecular condensates to regulate biological function. In cells, phase separation can occur in a bulk solution or on a lipid membrane. To establish life-like features in artificial cells, much research has been carried out to reproduce multiphase separation behavior. However, this has been mostly restricted to bulk properties, whereas membrane interactions are much less investigated. Here, we introduce a membrane-based strategy in which interfacial electrostatic heterogeneity governs multiphase separation in amylose-based coacervates, enabling the formation of subcompartments localized near the membrane interface. By integrating bowl-shaped polymer vesicles (stomatocytes) decorated with negatively charged gold nanoparticles into a terpolymer membrane, we construct a patchy membrane architecture that introduces localized, highly charged interfacial domains, thereby stabilizing amylose-based coacervates. Upon the addition of succinylated bovine serum albumin as a second phase-forming component, the embedded stomatocytes allow precise control over multiphase separation. Modulating the stomatocytes' coverage at the coacervate interface enables systematic tuning of the size, spatial localization, and number of protein-enriched subdroplets. Complete stomatocyte coverage further enhances multiphase stability against variations in ionic strength and pH, while improving long-term storage stability. Moreover, the interfacial multiphase organization can be dynamically regulated by ionic strength and temperature. Furthermore, the enlarged interfacial area promotes enhanced cargo uptake, while the programmable positioning of enzyme-containing subcompartments enables spatial regulation of interprotocellular chemical communication. Together, these findings establish interfacial electrostatic heterogeneity as a versatile strategy for engineering membrane-associated multiphase protocells in which spatial organization governs molecular transport, catalysis, and communication.

Indexed as

MembranesMetal NanoparticlesGoldPhase SeparationStatic ElectricityGold

Identifiers

PMID42506692
PMCPMC13474923

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.