A Novel Method for the Encapsulation of Biomolecules into Polymersomes via Direct Hydration

Abstract

One of the major engineering challenges for the implementation of block copolymer vesicles, or polymersomes, as therapeutic drug carriers is obtaining high encapsulation efficiencies for biomolecules. Here we present a novel method for encapsulation of proteins with high encapsulation efficiency within polymersomes formed from block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol)-bl-poly(propylene sulfide). By formulation of the neat block copolymer with a low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol), direct hydration of the formulated mixture yielded polymersomes. We were able to achieve encapsulation efficiencies for ovalbumin at 37%, bovine serum albumin at 19%, and bovine gamma-globulin at 15% when the proteins were included in the hydration solution. The formulation process and the dispersion of polymersomes from the preparation in phosphate-buffered saline were characterized using confocal microscopy, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and fluorimetry. We were also successful in the encapsulation of proteinase K, a proteolytic enzyme, and demonstrated by SDS-PAGE that the enzyme was contained inside polymersomes when dispersed in a solution of ovalbumin.

Polymersome-Mediated Delivery of Combination Anticancer Therapy to Head and Neck Cancer Cells: 2D and 3D in Vitro Evaluation

“…Doxorubicin was encapsulated via a rehydration method as previously described 28 . Briefly, at the point of rehydration doxorubicin (final concentration 250 µg/ml) was added to the co-polymer film (either alone or paclitaxel loaded) in 2 ml of 100 mM PBS.…”

pH controlled staining of CD4+ and CD19+ cells within functionalized microfluidic channel

“…50,51 Accordingly, the encapsulation efficiencies of TF1-antiCD4 and TF2-antiCD19 were found to be 51.4 6 4.3% and 57.0 6 4.1%, respectively.…”

Polimerossomos versus lipossomos: a evolução da "Bala Mágica"

“…55 Apesar de amplamente descrito na literatura, esse método apresenta desvantagens como a tendência em formar sistemas polidispersos, a utilização de longos períodos de tempo durante a hidratação para obtenção das vesículas, bem como a necessidade de métodos para diminuição do tamanho das vesículas, como por exemplo, extrusão da amostra final. 56 O método da troca do solvente consiste em inicialmente dissolver os CA em um solvente orgânico e, em seguida, adicionar lentamente uma fase aquosa (ou injetar a fase orgânica em uma fase aquosa), levando à precipitação das vesículas. Por isso, pode ser denominado também de nanoprecipitação.…”