Photoactivated Polymersome Nanomotors: Traversing Biological Barriers

Abstract

Synthetic nanomotors are appealing delivery vehicles for the dynamic transport of functional cargo. Their translation toward biological applications is limited owing to the use of non‐degradable components. Furthermore, size has been an impediment owing to the importance of achieving nanoscale (ca. 100 nm) dimensions, as opposed to microscale examples that are prevalent. Herein, we present a hybrid nanomotor that can be activated by near‐infrared (NIR)‐irradiation for the triggered delivery of internal cargo and facilitated transport of external agents to the cell. Utilizing biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(d,l‐lactide) (PEG‐PDLLA) block copolymers, with the two blocks connected via a pH sensitive imine bond, we generate nanoscopic polymersomes that are then modified with a hemispherical gold nanocoat. This Janus morphology allows such hybrid polymersomes to undergoing photothermal motility in response to thermal gradients generated by plasmonic absorbance of NIR irradiation, with velocities ranging up to 6.2±1.10 μm s−1. These polymersome nanomotors (PNMs) are capable of traversing cellular membranes allowing intracellular delivery of molecular and macromolecular cargo.

Au/Pt‐Egg‐in‐Nest Nanomotor for Glucose‐Powered Catalytic Motion and Enhanced Molecular Transport to Living Cells

“…)-modified Janus nano/micro structures are known to show chemical diffusiophoresis, [7] they can only be operated using biologically harmful concentrations of H 2 O 2 and other non-native fuels or in the response to external light or magnetic fields. [8] We intended to devise ab iocompatible nanomotor, powered by glucose,w hich is abundant and the most effective essential metabolic energy source,functioning as the major pathological indicator, biosynthetic precursor and biochemical signaling molecules in living systems. [9] However,reaction with glucose as the fuel for motility would require the multi-enzyme-like specific catalytic power of integrated single nanostructure,c arrying out chemical cascades and anisotropic nanoscale convex-concave surfacefeatures to endow directional propulsion.…”

Feedback and Communication in Active Hydrogel Spheres with pH Fronts: Facile Approaches to Grow Soft Hydrogel Structures

“…[17,18] Important features such as threshold sensing, [19] bistability, [20,21] oscillations, [22][23][24] and pattern formation [25] could be shown on am olecular level. Building on this,C RNs were combined into materials to control physiochemical responses, [26,27] capsule permeability, [28,29] patterns, [30] communication, [31][32][33][34] gating, [35] chemotaxis, [36] diffusiophoresis, [37,38] and hydrogel formation. [39][40][41][42][43][44] Hence,f eedback-driven CRNs can offer ag reat control on am olecular scale,b ut their behavioral diversification demands for ap roper sketch of the kinetics and network topology,and the step from molecular systems to materials continues to be asignificant challenge.…”

Cancer Cell Membrane Camouflaged Semi‐Yolk@Spiky‐Shell Nanomotor for Enhanced Cell Adhesion and Synergistic Therapy

“…[7,27] Similarly, Shao et al constructed biodegradable photothermally driven polymersome nanomotors for the intracellular delivery of molecular and macromolecular cargo by traversing cellular membranes. [28] Nevertheless, the introduction of the photothermal property of these nanomotors required the physical deposition of noble metals (gold) on the surface of nanoparticles, which increased the fabrication cost and limited the scale production. [29,30] To solve these problems, Wan et al designed mesoporous-macroporous silica/platinum (Pt) nanomotor loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) for chemotherapy and Pt nanoparticles for photothermal propulsion and therapy.…”

“…The asymmetric carbon core of mC@SiO 2 can form a thermal gradient under the NIR light irradiation, which propels nanomotors by self‐thermophoretic force. Notably, different from aforementioned NIR light‐driven nanomotors prepared by gold deposition and Pt nanoparticles loading, [ 27–31 ] the photothermal component of the nanomotor is carbon semi‐yolk inside the nanoparticle. Thus, the outer spiky shell can be totally used to load drug, resulting in a high loading capacity of DOX (596 µg mg −1 ).…”