Multifunctional polymersomes for cytosolic delivery of gemcitabine and doxorubicin to cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Although liposomes are widely used as carriers of drugs and imaging agents, they suffer from a lack of stability and the slow release of the encapsulated contents at the targeted site. Polymersomes (vesicles of amphiphilic polymers) are considerably more stable compared to liposomes; however, they also demonstrate a slow release for the encapsulated contents, limiting their efficacy as a drug-delivery tool. As a solution, we prepared and characterized echogenic polymersomes, which are programmed to release the encapsulated drugs rapidly when incubated with cytosolic concentrations of glutathione. These vesicles encapsulated air bubbles inside and efficiently reflected diagnostic-frequency ultrasound. Folate-targeted polymersomes showed an enhanced uptake by breast and pancreatic-cancer cel

SUBMITTER: Nahire R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4059508 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature