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Single-cell encapsulation promises the cytoprotection of the encased cells against lethal stressors, reminiscent of the sporulation process in nature. However, the development of a cytocompatible method for chemically mimicking the germination process (i.e., shell degradation on-demand) has been elusive, despite the shell degradation being pivotal for the practical use of functional cells as well as for single cell-based biology. We report that an artificial shell, composed of tannic acid (TA) and FeIII, on individual Saccharomyces cerevisiae controllably degrades on-demand, while protecting the yeast from multiple external aggressors, including UV-C irradiation, lytic enzymes, and silver nanoparticles. Cell division is suppressed by the TA-FeIII shell, but restored fully upon shell degradation. The formation of a TA-FeIII shell would provide a versatile tool for achieving the chemical version of "sporulation and germination". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which developed a method for fabricating silica thin films on gold substrates using a rationally designed molecule as a catalytic templates. Topics covered include the synthesis of a catalytic molecule, histidine-conjugated thiol, the experimental procedure for the formation of silica thin films, and the catalytic activity of histidine-terminated self-assembled monolayers (His-SAM) compared with that of amine-SAM.