We report a versatile synthesis for polymersomes of controlled submicron (&lt;500 nm) size for intracellular delivery of high and low molecular weight compounds. The nanoparticles are synthesized by stabilizing the vesicular morphology of thermally responsive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)n-b-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)m (PVCLn-b-PVPONm) diblock copolymers with tannic acid (TA), a hydrolyzable polyphenol, via hydrogen bonding at the temperature above the copolymer’s LCST. The PVCL179-b-PVPONm diblock copolymers are produced by controlled RAFT polymerization of PVPON using PVCL as a macro-chain transfer agent. The size of the TA-locked (PVCL179-b-PVPONm) polymersomes at room temperature and upon temperature variations are controlled by the PVPON chain length and TA:PVPON molar unit ratio. We also show that TA-locked polymersomes can encapsulate and store the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) and higher molecular weight dextrans in the physiologically relevant pH and temperature range. Encapsulated DOX releases in the nuclei of human alveolar adenocarcinoma tumor cells after 6-h incubation via biodegradation of the TA shell with the cytotoxicity of DOX-loaded polymersomes being concentration-dependent. Our approach offers biocompatible and intracellular degradable nanovesicles of controllable size for delivery of a variety of encapsulated materials and provides a new perspective for fundamental studies on thermo-triggered polymer assemblies in solutions.

Polymersomes based on temperature-sensitive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) for anticancer therapy

256th National Meeting (2018)

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