Swollen Vesicles and Multiple Emulsions from Block Copolymers

Abstract

We engineer novel structures by “stuffing” the aliphatic regions of self-assembled aggregates with hydrophobic homopolymer. These “stuffed” vesicles and multiple emulsions are formed in a one-step process when we rehydrate stuffed films made of amphiphilic block copolymer and hydrophobic homopolymer. Without such homopolymer, this system forms micelles. With homopolymer, vesicles form; varying vesicle membrane thicknesses show that these structures incorporate different amounts of homopolymer. Multiple emulsions, containing more homopolymer than stuffed vesicles, are also fabricated using this single-amphiphile system. The system's incorporation of homopolymer to modify the properties and morphology of the resultant structures is a convenient strategy for preparing self-assembled macromolecular structures with controllable properties.

Polymer Architecture and Drug Delivery

“…The thickness of the polymersome membrane is obviously influenced by the length of the hydrophobic chain in the copolymer (119,120). For example, in the system of PEOYPBD (Scheme 13), the hydrophobic membrane thickness (d) increased from 9.6, 10.6, to 14.8 nm when the molecular weight of BD increased from 3600 to 5200 to 10,400 g/mol (121).…”

Temperature and concentration effects on supramolecular aggregation and phase behavior for poly(propylene oxide)–b-poly(ethylene oxide)–b-poly(propylene oxide) copolymers of different concentration in aqueous mixtures, 2

“…Block copolymers have been intensively studied due to capability of some of them to form several supramolecular structures in aqueous and organic mixtures [9][10][11][12][13][14]. Because of the high biocompatibility shown, poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO), triblock copolymers (commercially known as Pluronics) are one of the best candidates to be used as drug delivery systems [15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

Microbial biosurfactants and hydrolytic enzymes mediates in situ development of stable supra-molecular assemblies in fatty acids released from triglycerides

“…However, question on preparation of highly stable vesicles is still unanswered. Further, literatures suggests, stability of liposomes is related to its thickness of the hydrophobic layer in the bilayer of the liposome membrane, and stability is generally assessed by entangling of fluorescent dye [43] and observation on its release pattern or by microinjection method [24].…”