Membrane Manipulation of Giant Unilamellar Polymer Vesicles with a Temperature‐Responsive Polymer

Abstract

Understanding the complex behavior and dynamics of cellular membranes is integral to gain insight into cellular division and fusion processes. Bottom-up synthetic cells are as a platform for replicating and probing cellular behavior. Giant polymer vesicles are more robust than liposomal counterparts, as well as having a broad range of chemical functionalities. However, the stability of the membrane can prohibit dynamic processes such as membrane phase separation and division. Here, we present a method for manipulating the membrane of giant polymersomes using a temperature responsive polymer. Upon elevation of temperature deformation and phase separation of the membrane was observed. Upon cooling, the membrane relaxed and became homogeneous again, with infrequent division of the synthetic cells.

Surface‐Area Determination of Anisotropic Polymersomes by Amphiphilic Molecular Probe Loading

“…The bottom‐up assembly enables the precise organization of polymers into anisotropic nanostructures, ranging from one‐dimensional tubes to two‐dimensional or three‐dimensional platelets and cubes, etc [1–7] . The shape anisotropy paves the way to novel properties desirable for next‐generation drug delivery systems [8–11] .…”

“…The bottom-up assembly enables the precise organization of polymers into anisotropic nanostructures, ranging from one-dimensional tubes to two-dimensional or three-dimensional platelets and cubes, etc. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] The shape anisotropy paves the way to novel properties desirable for nextgeneration drug delivery systems. [8][9][10][11] The surface area of anisotropic assemblies is a critical factor concerning their circulating and targeting performance.…”

Stimuli-Responsive Polymer-Based Nanosystems for Cancer Theranostics

“…24−27 This approach also eliminates the need for organic solvents, thus improving the overall safety and efficacy of the drug delivery. Dendronized polymers, 28 liposomes, 29−31 polymer micelles, 32 polymer-drug conjugates, 33,34 polymer vesicles, 35,36 carbon nanotubes, 37,38 silica nanoparticles, 39−41 iron oxide nanoparticles, 42,43 gold nanoparticles, 44−46 etc., have all been investigated as nanocarriers. Among them, polymer micelles, liposomes, and polymer-drug conjugates are perceived as the most promising candidates and have received a great deal of interest in fundamental research and even clinical studies.…”

“…Nanocarriers have aroused a great deal of interest in the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of cancer. − In particular, theranostic nanosystems have been realized on nanocarriers by binding both active drug ingredients and disease detection components through covalent bonds, weak interactions, and other physical means. − By utilizing tumor-specific phenomena and interactions, namely, an enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, , specific ligand binding, − and an endogenous microenvironment and exogenous stimuli, , these nanosystems are able to target the lesion site and release the therapeutic agents in a responsive manner. ,− As a result, targeted nanosystems exhibit superior performance over single drug or single detection component systems at the same dose. − For example, the solubility of hydrophobic drugs such as paclitaxel, camptothecin, docetaxel, and others is significantly improved when uploaded into micellar nanocarriers. − This approach also eliminates the need for organic solvents, thus improving the overall safety and efficacy of the drug delivery. Dendronized polymers, liposomes, − polymer micelles, polymer-drug conjugates, , polymer vesicles, , carbon nanotubes, , silica nanoparticles, − iron oxide nanoparticles, , gold nanoparticles, − etc ., have all been investigated as nanocarriers. Among them, polymer micelles, liposomes, and polymer-drug conjugates are perceived as the most promising candidates and have received a great deal of interest in fundamental research and even clinical studies .…”

Photothermal-Responsive Sponge with Switchable Wettability for Intelligent and Sustainable Moisture Capture and Release

“…Stimuli-responsive materials have received tremendous research attention owing to their switchable functionality under simple external stimuli such as temperature, − pH, − light, , electric field, − mechanical force, and CO 2 . , Such intriguing feature enables stimuli-responsive materials to be one class of the most promising functional materials in various fields including environmental protection, − energy conversion, , and biomedicine. − Among those stimuli-responsive materials, thermal-responsive intelligent materials are particular interesting because of their broad applications involving sensitive temperature changes that can trigger rapid conversion between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. − …”