Robust formation of biodegradable polymersomes by direct hydration. Issue 5 (24th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sui, Xiaofeng; Kujala, Pekka; Janssen, Geert-Jan; de Jong, Edwin; Zuhorn, Inge S.; van Hest, Jan C. M.
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 6:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 691
• Page End: 696
• Publication Date: 2014-11-24
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/c4py01288g
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : A mild, robust and fast method to form nano-sized biodegradable polymersomes is described. Abstract : Herein, we report a robust way for the formation of biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)- block -poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEG- b -PCL) polymersomes, via direct hydration of a highly concentrated block copolymer/oligo(ethylene glycol) solution. Polymersomes with variable membrane thickness were formed under relatively mild conditions in a short time, by changing the hydrophobic block length. Plunge freezing followed by cryo transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM) was utilized to visualize the morphology of newly-formed polymersomes in their native condition. An MTT cytotoxicity study showed that the as-prepared polymersomes have good biocompatibility to hCMEC/D3 brain endothelial cells. As this method does not involve the use of small molecular organic solvent, sonication or freeze–thawing steps, it can offer the opportunity to form biodegradable polymersomes on-site. The work may facilitate the bench-to-bedside translation of biodegradable polymersomes as robust drug nanocarriers.