Facile Mixing of Phospholipids Promotes Self-Assembly of Low-Molecular-Weight Biodegradable Block Co-Polymers into Functional Vesicular Architectures.

ABSTRACT: In this work, we have used low-molecular-weight (PEG₁₂-b-PCL₆, PEG₁₂-b-PCL₉ or PEG₁₆-b-PLA₃₈; M_W, 1.25-3.45 kDa) biodegradable block co-polymers to construct nano- and micron-scaled hybrid (polymer/lipid) vesicles, by solvent dispersion and electroformation methods, respectively. The hybrid vesicles exhibit physical properties (size, bilayer thickness and small molecule encapsulation) of a vesicular boundary, confirmed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, calcein leakage assay and dynamic light scattering. Importantly, we find that these low M_W polymers, on their own, do not self-assemble into polymersomes at nano and micron scales. Using giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs)

SUBMITTER: Khan AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7240622 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature