Stimuli-responsive polymersomes for programmed drug delivery. 2009

Fenghua Meng, and Zhiyuan Zhong, and Jan Feijen
Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China.

In the past decade, polymersomes (also referred to as polymeric vesicles) have attracted rapidly growing interest based on their intriguing aggregation phenomena, cell and virus-mimicking dimensions and functions, as well as tremendous potential applications in medicine, pharmacy, and biotechnology. Unlike liposomes self-assembled from low molecular weight lipids, polymersomes are in general prepared from macromolecular amphiphiles of various architectures including amphiphilic diblock, triblock, graft and dendritic copolymers. Polymersomes exhibit very unique features highlighted with high stability, tunable membrane properties, versatility, and capacity of transporting hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic species such as anticancer drugs, genes, proteins, and diagnostic probes. Recently, much effort has been directed to the development of intelligent polymersomes that respond to internal or external stimuli, in particular, pH, temperature, redox potential, light, magnetic field, and ultrasound, either reversibly or nonreversibly. Stimuli-sensitive polymersomes have emerged as novel programmable delivery systems in which the release of the encapsulated contents can be readily modulated by the stimulus. The stimuli-responsive release may result in significantly enhanced therapeutic efficacy and minimized possible side effects. It is also feasible to form and disassemble polymersomes in water simply by applying an appropriate stimulus. In this article, recent advances in stimuli-sensitive polymersomes have been reviewed, and perspectives on future developments have been discussed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011108 Polymers Compounds formed by the joining of smaller, usually repeating, units linked by covalent bonds. These compounds often form large macromolecules (e.g., BIOPOLYMERS; PLASTICS). Polymer
D005544 Forecasting The prediction or projection of the nature of future problems or existing conditions based upon the extrapolation or interpretation of existing scientific data or by the application of scientific methodology. Futurology,Projections and Predictions,Future,Predictions and Projections
D013501 Surface-Active Agents Agents that modify interfacial tension of water; usually substances that have one lipophilic and one hydrophilic group in the molecule; includes soaps, detergents, emulsifiers, dispersing and wetting agents, and several groups of antiseptics. Surface Active Agent,Surface-Active Agent,Surfactant,Surfactants,Tenside,Amphiphilic Agents,Surface Active Agents,Tensides,Active Agent, Surface,Active Agents, Surface,Agent, Surface Active,Agent, Surface-Active,Agents, Amphiphilic,Agents, Surface Active,Agents, Surface-Active
D016503 Drug Delivery Systems Systems for the delivery of drugs to target sites of pharmacological actions. Technologies employed include those concerning drug preparation, route of administration, site targeting, metabolism, and toxicity. Drug Targeting,Delivery System, Drug,Delivery Systems, Drug,Drug Delivery System,Drug Targetings,System, Drug Delivery,Systems, Drug Delivery,Targeting, Drug,Targetings, Drug

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