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Biodegradable Polymersomes with Structure Inherent Fluorescence and Targeting Capacity for Enhanced Photo‐Dynamic Therapy
Author(s) -
Cao Shoupeng,
Xia Yifeng,
Shao Jingxin,
Guo Beibei,
Dong Yangyang,
Pijpers Imke A. B.,
Zhong Zhiyuan,
Meng Fenghua,
Abdelmohsen Loai K. E. A.,
Williams David S.,
Hest Jan C. M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202105103
Subject(s) - polymersome , tetraphenylethylene , ethylene glycol , biodegradable polymer , fluorescence , chemistry , nanotechnology , materials science , aggregation induced emission , pyridinium , biophysics , amphiphile , polymer , copolymer , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Biodegradable nanostructures displaying aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) are desirable from a biomedical point of view, due to the advantageous features of loading capacity, emission brightness, and fluorescence stability. Herein, biodegradable polymers comprising poly (ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(caprolactone‐gradient‐trimethylene carbonate) (PEG‐P(CLgTMC)), with tetraphenylethylene pyridinium‐TMC (PAIE) side chains have been developed, which self‐assembled into well‐defined polymersomes. The resultant AIEgenic polymersomes are intrinsically fluorescent delivery vehicles. The presence of the pyridinium moiety endows the polymersomes with mitochondrial targeting ability, which improves the efficiency of co‐encapsulated photosensitizers and improves therapeutic index against cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. This contribution showcases the ability to engineer AIEgenic polymersomes with structure inherent fluorescence and targeting capacity for enhanced photodynamic therapy.