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Polymer Vesicles with a Red Cell‐like Surface Charge: Microvascular Imaging and in vivo Tracking with Near‐Infrared Fluorescence
Author(s) -
Christian David A.,
Garbuzenko Olga B.,
Minko Tamara,
Discher Dennis E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200900589
Subject(s) - fluorescence , vesicle , biophysics , polymer , infrared , surface charge , fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy , materials science , in vivo , preclinical imaging , chemistry , nuclear magnetic resonance , nanotechnology , analytical chemistry (journal) , optics , biology , physics , chromatography , biochemistry , composite material , microbiology and biotechnology , membrane
Polymersomes are block copolymer‐based vesicles whose long circulation times or “stealth” in vivo coupled with the loading and controlled release of drugs, siRNA, and other compounds has made them attractive for delivery. A brushy corona of non‐ionic polyethylene glycol (PEG) likely contributes stealth, but red blood cells (RBCs) possess a negatively charged glycocalyx and circulate much longer. Polyanionic block copolymers were therefore mixed into polymersomes which were also labeled with a near IR fluorophore to quantify biodistribution in live mice and excised organs. Charge shifts tissue distribution, and high resolution imaging of vesicles in blood capillaries further shows that organ cultures can provide deeper insight into microscale transport within tissue microenvironments.