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Recent developments suggest that the phase transition of natural and synthetic biomacromolecules represents an important and ubiquitous mechanism underlying structural assemblies toward the fabrication of high-performance materials. Such a transition results in the formation of condensed liquid droplets, described as condensates or coacervates. Being able to effectively control the assembly of such entities is essential for tuning the quality and their functionality. Here we describe how self-coacervation of genetically engineered spidroin-inspired proteins can be preceded by a wide range of kosmotropic salts. We studied the kinetics and mechanisms of coacervation in different conditions, from direct observation of initial phase separation to the early stage of nucleation/growth and fusion into large fluid assemblies. We found that coacervation induced by kosmotropic salts follows the classical nucleation theory and critically relies on precursor clusters of few weak-interacting protein monomers. Depending on solution conditions and the strength of the supramolecular interaction as a function of time, coacervates with a continuum of physiochemical properties were observed. We observed similar characteristics in other protein-based coacervates, which include having a spherical-ellipsoid shape in solution, an interconnected bicontinuous network, surface adhesion, and wetting properties. Finally, we demonstrated the use of salt-induced self-coacervates of spidroin-inspired protein as a cellulosic binder in dried condition., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

It is well known that adding salt to a colloidal solution stabilized by electrostatic repulsions can induce its destabilization. When this colloidal solution is encapsulated inside liposomes an in situ precipitation can be induced by slightly modification of the environment: application of a magnetic field in the case of magnetic particles or increase of the temperature. It has been shown in a previous study that magnetic liposomes exhibit strong deformation under magnetic field. In this case the precipitation can be induced after their elongation under magnetic field and liposomes keep their shape even if the magnetic field is cut off. The following study is motivated by the desire to use the salt effect to precipitate magnetic nanoparticles inside giant liposomes., (2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)