Naturally occurring self-assembled biological carriers (e.g., cell membranes, exosomes) that provide a nanometer-thin hydrophobic barrier to protect and transport cargo have inspired the development of new nanosized polymeric vesicles (polymersomes) for advancing the field of precision therapy. Polymersomes have demonstrated increased mechanical stability, efficient drug entrapment, and controllable stimuli-triggered delivery of cargo. Herein, we present synthesis and assembly of polymersomes from thermally responsive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-block-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-block-poly(3-methyl-N-vinylcaprolactam), and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-block-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-block-poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) block copolymers and explore their biomedical potential. The poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)n-block-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)m polymersomes are synthesized by stabilizing the vesicular morphology of the diblock copolymers via hydrogen bonding with an antioxidant, tannic acid (TA), at 48 °C. The size of the TA-locked (PVCL179-PVPONm) polymersomes is controlled by the PVPON chain length and TA:PVPON molar unit ratio. These TA-locked polymersomes can encapsulate and store the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and higher molecular weight rigid molecules (e.g., dextran). Encapsulated DOX can be released in the nuclei of tumor cells after 6-h incubation via biodegradation of the TA shell. For PVCL-PDMS-PVCL triblock copolymer polymersomes, increasing the temperature above the LCST of PVCL results in gradual vesicle shrinkage leading to sustained drug release. In vivo transthoracic electrocardiography of mice injected with the DOX-loaded PMVC-block-PVPON polymersomes and liposomes followed by necropsy analysis revealed that while free DOX was toxic to the mice at low and high doses after 14 days, and showed detrimental effects to the heart left ventricle, neither liposomal or polymersomal DOX showed direct evidence of cardiotoxicity at low DOX dose. However, both analyses revealed the detrimental effects of liposomal DOX at a higher DOX dose unlike that for DOX-(PMVC-block-PVPON) polymersomes. Our results provide the evidence for superior stability of synthetic polymersomes in vivo and show a great promise for development of the next generation of advanced therapeutics carriers with minimal side effects.

Polymersome drug nanocarriers from temperature-sensitive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) block copolymers

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.