Metabolically Active, Fully Hydrolysable Polymersomes

Abstract

The synthesis and aqueous self‐assembly of a new class of amphiphilic aliphatic polyesters are presented. These AB block polyesters comprise polycaprolactone (hydrophobe) and an alternating polyester from succinic acid and an ether‐substituted epoxide (hydrophile). They self‐assemble into biodegradable polymersomes capable of entering cells. Their degradation products are bioactive, giving rise to differentiated cellular responses inducing stromal cell proliferation and macrophage apoptosis. Both effects emerge only when the copolymers enter cells as polymersomes and their magnitudes are size dependent.

Embedding of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles into membranes of well-defined poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoscale magnetovesicles as ultrasensitive MRI probes of membrane bio-degradation

“…In previous literature, D. Hammer et al showed that hydrolytic degradation of PEO-b-PCL vesicles incorporating porphyrin-based fluorophores within the PCL core results in change in porphyrin emission providing a powerful tool for monitoring in vivo drug delivery non-invasively [34]. Such degradative mechanism of polyester-made vesicles, catalysed by enzymes, was also reported in recent work by Zhu et al [58]. However, to the authors' knowledge, no similar work using MRI contrast agents to monitor degradation of polyesters like PCL in membranes was never reported.…”

Recent Developments in Ring-Opening Copolymerization of Epoxides With CO2 and Cyclic Anhydrides for Biomedical Applications

“…These degradation products were found to stimulate the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts, which could be of great value for cell-specific wound healing. This finding signals the importance of designing drug delivery systems with specific metabolic activities (Zhu et al, 2019).…”

Macrophage Targeting pH Responsive Polymersomes for Glucocorticoid Therapy

“…At least 10 different regions of the petri dishes were acquired and the NF-κB nuclear translocation imaging analysis was evaluated by co-localisation (Pierce’s coefficient values) of the NF-κB and nucleus fluorescence intensity signals using Fiji ImageJ software (version 2.0). Additionally, the quantification of macrophages inflammation levels related to the NF-κB signalling activity was carried out in the THP-1 Blue™ NF-κB reporter cells, as previously reported [32]. These cells are stably transfected and express a secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter gene driven by an interferon-β minimal promoter fused to five copies of the NF-κB transcription factor, which promotes cytokines production.…”