Over the past decade, polymersomes have emerged as promising materials for a wide range of biomedical applications such as drug delivery and imaging. While initial studies focused on the various polymer compositions and encapsulation properties of polymersomes, their surface functionalization is emerging as an important means of controlling their biological properties such as toxicity and biodistribution and for imparting new functions. We describe here the introduction of dendritic groups to biodegradable poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)-polycaprolactone (PCL) polymersome surfaces as a means of introducing new biological functions. For example, dendritic guanidines were shown to enhance cell uptake allowing materials to be delivered into cells. Dendritic sugars led to enhanced protein binding for therapeutic applications. Finally, dendritic Gd(III) complexes exhibited much enhanced relaxivities relative to their low molecular weight counterparts, demonstrating the promise of these materials as medical imaging contrast agents. These examples demonstrate the utility and versatility of this surface functionalization approach.

Biodegradable dendritic polymersomes as scaffolds for biomedical applications

244th National Meeting (2012)

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