Regulating vesicle bilayer permeability and selectivity via stimuli-triggered polymersome-to-PICsome transition.

ABSTRACT: Compared to liposomes, polymersomes of block copolymers (BCPs) possess enhanced stability, along with compromised bilayer permeability. Though polyion complex vesicles (PICsomes) from oppositely charged block polyelectrolytes possess semipermeable bilayers, they are unstable towards physiologically relevant ionic strength and temperature; moreover, permselectivity tuning of PICsomes has remained a challenge. Starting from a single component diblock or triblock precursor, we solve this dilemma by stimuli-triggered chemical reactions within pre-organized BCP vesicles, actuating in situ polymersome-to-PICsome transition and achieving molecular size-selective cargo release at tunable rates. UV light and reductive milieu were utilized to trigger carboxyl decaging and generate ion pairs within h

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7090076 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature