Robertson, James D. , Yealland, Guy , ÁVILA OLÍAS, MARÍA MILAGROS, Chierico, Luca , Bandmann, Oliver , Renshaw, Stephen A. , Battaglia, Giuseppe
Si
ACS Nano
Article
Científica
1
1
12.881
5.981
01/05/2014
000336640600054
2-s2.0-84901660072
Optimizing the shape of a nanovector influences its interaction with a cell and determines the internalization kinetics. Block copolymer amphiphiles self-assemble into monodisperse structures in aqueous solutions and have been explored extensively as drug delivery vectors. However, the structure of self-assembled block copolymers has mainly been limited to spherical vesicles or spherical and worm-like micelles. Here we show the controlled formation and purification of tubular polymersomes, long cylindrical vesicles. Tubular polymersomes are purified from other structures, and their formation is manipulated by incorporating the biocompatible membrane components cholesterol and phospholipids. Finally we show that these tubular polymersomes have different cellular internalization kinetics compared with spherical polymersomes and can successfully encapsulate and deliver fluorescent bovine serum albumin protein intracellularly.
tubular polymersomes; polymersomes; nanotubes; drug delivery; endocytosis