In general, conjugation of carriers with antibodies enables specific binding to determinants exposed at the cell surface in a so-called active targeting strategy. By selecting antibodies, it is possible to optimally deliver cargo (i.e., drugs or proteins) to certain cell destinations (e.g., the cell surface versus intracellular compartments). The major problem with such approach is the development of an efficient, nontoxic carrier that can simultaneously encapsulate, release and deliver compounds into specific cell types, depending on the attached targeting ligand.If the targeting ligands attached to the surface of the nanocarriers are properly selected, the delivery process can increase the protein bioavailability, minimize the nonspecific uptake, and in addition circulation time of the carrier can be prolonged. Very recently, it was demonstrated that antibodies covalently attached to a polymersome surface consisting of PDMS-b-PMOXA diblock copolymers comprising hydroxyl and amino end groups resulted in a specific cell targeting [1]. Here, we incorporate pH responsive acrylate/methacrylate blocks into modified PDMS-b-PMOXA system in order to control release profile of the cargo from the nanocarriers. A library of copolymers were synthesized by controlled radical polymerizations, allowing the synthesis of polymers with predetermined molecular weights, narrow weight distributions, desired composition and molecular architecture. They self-assembled in polymersomes with sizes ranging from 100 to 250 nm and successfully encapsulated peptides (Figure 1). In addition, the delivery platform exhibits versatile surface chemistry allowing attachment of antibodies or other targeting ligands. This platform therefore replys to some challenges of medicine today, providing not only a triggered release but also improved therapy through a designed targeting system.Figure 1: Bioactive polymersome.[1] S. Egli, M.G. Nussbaumer, V. Balasubramanian, M. Chami, N. Bruns, C. Palivan, W. Meier Biocompatible Functionalization of Polymersome Surfaces: A new Approach to Surface Immobilization and Cell Targeting using Polymersomes, Journal of the American Chemical Society 133(12)  ,  4476 (2011).

Bioactive polymersomes: Toward carriers for cancer vaccine delivery

248th National Meeting (2014)

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