Stable polymersomes based on ionic–zwitterionic block copolymers modified with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Issue 27 (12th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kania, Gabriela; Kwolek, Urszula; Nakai, Keita; Yusa, Shin-ichi; Bednar, Jan; Wójcik, Tomasz; Chłopicki, Stefan; Skórka, Tomasz; Szuwarzyński, Michał; Szczubiałka, Krzysztof; Kepczynski, Mariusz; Nowakowska, Maria
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 3:Issue 27(2015)
• Page Start: 5523
• Page End: 5531
• Publication Date: 2015-06-12
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c5tb00182j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-750X

Abstract

Abstract : Novel biocompatible polymersomes with semipermeable ionic membranes were used as promising delivery systems. Abstract : Stable polymersomes with semipermeable membranes were prepared by simple mixing of two oppositely charged diblock copolymers containing zwitterionic and cationic (PMPC20 - b -PMAPTAC190 ) or anionic (PMPC20 - b -PAMPS196 ) blocks. The formation of vesicular structures in the mixed solution of the block copolymers was confirmed by direct observation using the cryo-TEM technique. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles coated with a cationic chitosan derivative (SPION/CCh) and decorated with a fluorescent probe molecule were next incorporated into the polymersome structure. The average diameter of SPION/CCh-polymersomes estimated using cryo-TEM was about 250 nm. Surface topography of the SPION/CCh-loaded vesicles was imaged using AFM and the magnetic properties of these objects were confirmed by MFM and MRI measurements. The ability of SPION/CCh-polymersomes to affect T 2 relaxation time in MRI was evaluated based on the measurements of r 2 relaxivity. The obtained value of r 2 (573 ± 10 mM −1 s −1 ) was quite high. The cytotoxicity and intracellular uptake of the SPION/CCh-loaded vesicles into EA.hy926 cells were studied. The results indicate that the SPION/CCh-polymersomes seem to be internalized by vascular endothelium and are not cytotoxic to endothelial cells up to 1 μg Fe per mL. Therefore, it can be suggested that SPION/CCh-polymersomes could prove useful as T 2 contrast agents in the MRI of endothelium.