Abstract
Polymersomes are synthetic vesicles that mimic the architecture of cellular compartments such as the cell membrane and organelles. These biomimetic compartments facilitate the creation of cell-like chemical systems, including microreactors and synthetic organelles. However, the construction of hierarchical multi-compartment systems remains challenging and typically requires the encapsulation of pre-formed vesicles within a host compartment. Here, we report the formation of multicompartment polymersomes with a vesicle-in-vesicle architecture achieved through self-division induced by short peptides incorporated into the vesicle membrane. A phenylalanine-phenylalanine-methionine (FFM) tripeptide was designed and encapsulated into the polymersome via microfluidics. We demonstrate that vesicle self-division occurs due to peptide incorporation into the membrane in response to pH changes. This self-division creates internal vesicles capable of colocalizing enzymes. The hybrid polymer-peptide system described here provides a straightforward method for developing subcompartmentalized systems, paving the way for engineering microreactors with life-like properties.