Polymersomes: A new multi-functional tool for cancer diagnosis and therapy

Abstract

Nanoparticles are being developed as delivery vehicles for therapeutic pharmaceuticals and contrast imaging agents. Polymersomes (mesoscopic polymer vesicles) possess a number of attractive biomaterial properties that make them ideal for these applications. Synthetic control over block copolymer chemistry enables tunable design of polymersome material properties. The polymersome architecture, with its large hydrophilic reservoir and its thick hydrophobic lamellar membrane, provides significant storage capacity for both water soluble and insoluble substances (such as drugs and imaging probes). Further, the brush-like architecture of the polymersome outer shell can potentially increase biocompatibility and blood circulation times. A further recent advance is the development of multi-functional polymersomes that carry pharmaceuticals and imaging agents simultaneously. The ability to conjugate biologically active ligands to the brush surface provides a further means for targeted therapy and imaging. Hence, polymersomes hold enormous potential as nanostructured biomaterials for future in vivo drug delivery and diagnostic imaging applications.

Polymeric nanoparticles for colon cancer therapy: overview and perspectives

“…Although they have a structure similar to that of liposomes, the polymersomes exhibit enhanced stability and higher loading efficiency. 81,82 Matthew A. Petersen and co-workers have developed PR_b-functionalized, bioresorbable polymersomes for efficient and specific delivery of cisplatin to human colon cancer cells. PR_b is a specific targeting peptide of a 5 b 1 integrin which is overexpressed in human colon cancer cells.…”

Polymeric nanoparticles for targeted treatment in oncology: current insights

“…Although they exhibit an architecture similar to that of liposomes (vesicles derived from phospholipids), polymersomes possess greater stability, storage capability, and prolonged circulation time. 109 Polymer vesicles can efficiently encapsulate DOX in their aqueous center. The therapeutic potential of DOXloaded PEO-block-PCL polymersomes was assessed in xenotransplanted (T6-17 cells) tumor-bearing mice, and their capability to retard tumor growth was examined.…”

“…109 Polymersomes based on polyphosphazene were investigated as delivery systems of hydrophilic DOX hydrochloride (DOX⋅HCl) or hydrophobic DOX base (DOX) for breast cancer therapy. Strong interaction with polymersomes enabled higher encapsulation of DOX⋅HCl or DOX.…”

Bursting of sensitive polymersomes induced by curling

“…Compared with liposomes (5-nm bilayer) they are extremely stable and robust, which makes them excellent candidates as drug carriers (3) and microreactors (4). Moreover, targeted transport can be achieved by taking advantage of the many possibilities to endfunctionalize the copolymers (5). The controlled release of therapeutic substances can also be integrated through the use of copolymers with blocks that respond to chemical stimuli such as hydrolysis (6,7), oxidation (8) or reduction (9) reaction, and pH changes (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17).…”