Effect of Detergents on Morphology, Size Distribution, and Concentration of Copolymer-Based Polymersomes

Abstract

Polymersomes made of amphiphilic diblock copolymers are generally regarded as having higher physical and chemical stability than liposomes composed of phospholipids. This enhanced stability arises from the higher molecular weight of polymer constituents. Despite their increased stability, polymer bilayers are solubilized by detergents in a similar manner to lipid bilayers. In this work, we evaluated the stability of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(εcaprolactone) (PEG-PCL) based polymersomes exposed to three different detergents: N-Octylb-D-Glucopyranoside (OG), Lauryldimethylamine N-oxide (LDAO), and Triton X-100 (TX-100). Changes in morphology, particle size distribution, and concentrations of the polymersomes were evaluated during the titration of the detergents into the polymersome solutions. Furthermore, we discussed the effect of detergent features on solubilization of the polymeric bilayer and compared it to the results reported in the literature for liposomes and polymersomes. This information can be used for tuning the properties of PEG-PCL polymersomes for use in applications such as drug delivery or protein reconstitution studies.

Application of polymersomes in membrane protein study and drug discovery: Progress, strategies, and perspectives

“…Consequently, careful control of detergent concentration needs to be done to increase MPs stability. 166 , 176 , 187 Organic solvents are necessary for polymersomes solubilization and are used to mix with the MPs solution to facilitate protein reconstitution. However, the presence of organic solvents can denature MPs, hence decreasing their functional activity.…”

“…However, high concentration of detergents used can also lead to formation of detergent micelles which can destabilize MPs. Consequently, careful control of detergent concentration needs to be done to increase MPs stability 166,176,187 . Organic solvents are necessary for polymersomes solubilization and are used to mix with the MPs solution to facilitate protein reconstitution.…”

Synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol)-co-poly(caprolactone) di- and triblock copolymers and effect of architecture, dispersity and end-functionalisation on their aqueous self-assembly

“…11,[22][23][24] Extensive studies have displayed successful polymersome formation from PEG-b-PCL diblock copolymers using a wide range of methods, including film-rehydration, 25 electroformation, 26 and, more recently, direct hydration. 27,28 However, to our knowledge, PEG-b-PCL-b-PEG triblock copolymers have mainly been reported to form micellar structures with applications as thermoresponsive materials or drug carriers, [29][30][31] whereas there seem to be no reports on their use in polymersome formation.…”

Síntese de copolímeros em bloco para a prospecção da formação de sistemas vesiculares (polimerossomos)

“…A curva analítica de glicose gerada foi: GÓRECKI et al, 2021;ROTTET et al, 2020). Com esses dados, concluímos que, dentre as opções estudadas nesse trabalho, o detergente Triton X-100 seria mais adequado para o rompimento das vesículas e, uma vez que houve pouca variação entre as concentrações empregadas, uma concentração entre 2,5 e 7% pode produzir resultados satisfatórios.…”

“…Para isso, testes foram realizados com os detergentes Triton X-100 e 1,1-Difenil-eter (DPE), o quais foram adicionados esperando-se romper a membrana da vesícula. Esses detergentes são conhecidos por apresentarem essa ação(GÓRECKI et al, 2021). A quantidade de detergente foi testada para ser suficiente para o rompimento da membrana, mas sem que houvesse desnaturação da enzima pelo detergente.…”