New architectures of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(methylthiirane) in block copolymers

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.

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“…The block copolymers were prepared as previously described ,− and fluorescently labeled as reported recently …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

O’Neil

Suzuki

Demurtas³

et al. 2009

Langmuir

103

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“…The “living” nature of the episulfide ring‐opening anionic polymerisation makes it amenable to the preparation of complex macromolecular architectures, such as star114–116 or block117, 118 copolymers. This feature, together with its tolerance to a number of functional groups and environmental conditions, had made this polymerisation mechanism the most popular technique for producing well‐defined polysulfide‐based structures.…”

Section: Preparative Strategies For Polysulfidesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polymers and Sulfur: what are Organic Polysulfides Good For? Preparative Strategies and Biological Applications

Kilcher

Tirelli

2009

Macromol. Rapid Commun.

106

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Sulfur(II)-containing polymers (polysulfides) combine flexible synthetic and processing techniques with a unique responsiveness to oxidants. Here, the polysulfide oxidative sensitivity is put into the biological context of the development of new anti-inflammatory therapies - the development of new anti-inflammatory methodologies, adopted interactions and the minimisation of foreign-body reactions - through the review of 50 years of research on polysulfide synthetic methodologies. Attention is paid to the identification of the most flexible and robust preparative techniques.

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“…Since the main SEC peak of the crude product exhibits no shoulder at the relevant region where the PS arm elutes, the coupling was quantitatively. The coupling reaction was effected for 2 d at RT in the presence of 1 vol.-% DMEU (in pure THF, the coupling efficiency of thianions is low [37] ), which remarkably enhances the reactivity of lithium thiolates, and a catalytic amount of Bu 4 NBr, which accelerates the reaction by halogen exchange. [38] On the other hand, PtBMA-Li is unreactive against PSSiMe 2 CH 2 Cl precursor 3 (see Figure S2 in Supporting Information) at À20 8C.…”

Section: Synthesis Of Block Copolymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Block Copolymer Synthesis via Chemoselective Stepwise Coupling Reactions

Bellas

Rehahn

2009

Macro Chemistry & Physics

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Chemoselective stepwise coupling between living polymers and a heterobifunctional‐linking agent is shown to be a powerful methodology for block copolymer synthesis. This synthetic strategy is based on the quantitative formation of end‐functionalized precursors in the first coupling step. These end‐functionalized precursors were reacted with further living polymers, thereby producing well‐defined diblock copolymers, triblock terpolymers and a tetrablock quaterpolymer. The behavior of chloro(chloromethyl)dimethylsilane, chloro(3‐chloropropyl)dimethylsilane and (bromomethyl)chlorodimethylsilane against macroanions of different reactivity, prepared through living anionic polymerization, was studied. It is demonstrated that the applicability range of the presented methodology is exceptionally wide, and expands the limits of conventional methods based on sequential monomer addition considerably.magnified image

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New architectures of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(methylthiirane) in block copolymers

Cited by 6 publications

References 17 publications

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

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

Polymers and Sulfur: what are Organic Polysulfides Good For? Preparative Strategies and Biological Applications

Block Copolymer Synthesis via Chemoselective Stepwise Coupling Reactions

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