Temperature‐Controlled Assembly and Release from Polymer Vesicles of Poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐ poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)

Abstract

Narrow‐dispersity thermoresponsive block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) self‐assemble into vesicles at temperatures above 32 °C. The vesicles integrate a hydrophobic fluorescent dye into their membranes and encapsulate the hydrophilic anticancer drug doxorubicin. Temperature‐controlled release of the dye through disintegration of the vesicles takes place at temperatures below 32 °C, as shown in the figure.

Thermoresponsive Polymers for Biomedical Applications

“…These polymersomes would allow for encapsulation of both hydrophilic molecules within the interior, and hydrophobic molecules in the membrane promoting several possible therapeutic applications [120].…”

“…Crosslinking 15°C 50°C Polymersomes based on copolymers of PNIPAAm and poly(N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide hydrochloride) (PAMPA) [121], PNIPAAm and PEG [122], P(LA-star-b-NIPAAm) [123] and hyperbranched poly[3-ethyl-3-(hydroxymethyl)oxetane]-g-PEG [124] where also studied, where NIPAAm or PEG where the thermoresponsive blocks.…”

“…McCormick et al and Qin et al utilized the LCST of a thermoresponsive block to direct the formation of polymersomes [121,122]. McCormick used the LCST of PNIPAAm to induce formation of polymersomes and crosslinked the shell by ionic crosslinking using the polyelectrolyte PAMPA [121].…”

“…McCormick used the LCST of PNIPAAm to induce formation of polymersomes and crosslinked the shell by ionic crosslinking using the polyelectrolyte PAMPA [121]. Non-crosslinked polymersomes by Qin et al were synthesized using PEG and PNIPAAm [122]. Above the LCST of PNIPAAM the polymersomes formed spontaneously, encapsulating drugs loaded into the solution beforehand [122].…”

“…Non-crosslinked polymersomes by Qin et al were synthesized using PEG and PNIPAAm [122]. Above the LCST of PNIPAAM the polymersomes formed spontaneously, encapsulating drugs loaded into the solution beforehand [122]. These polymersomes showed no drug release until further cooling to destabilize them [122].…”