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Polymersomes as viral capsid mimics
Author(s) -
Ahmed Fariyal,
Photos Peter J.,
Discher Dennis E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
drug development research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.582
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1098-2299
pISSN - 0272-4391
DOI - 10.1002/ddr.20062
Subject(s) - polymersome , amphiphile , capsid , polymer , chemistry , nanotechnology , biophysics , in vivo , copolymer , materials science , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , gene
Polymersomes are self‐assembled polymer shells composed of block copolymer amphiphiles. These synthetic amphiphiles have a similar amphiphilicity to lipids, but they have much larger molecular weights and so for this reason, plus many others reviewed here, comparisons of polymersomes to viral capsids composed of large polypeptide chains seem increasingly more appropriate. The wide range of polymers being used to make polymersomes is summarized together with descriptions of physical properties such as stability and permeability. Emerging studies of in vivo stealthiness and programmed disassembly for controlled release are also elaborated here together with a summary of targeting in vitro. Comparisons of polymersomes to viral capsids are shown to encompass many aspects of current designs. Drug Dev. Res. 67:4–14, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.