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Controlling Cellular Uptake by Surface Chemistry, Size, and Surface Topology at the Nanoscale
Author(s) -
Massignani Marzia,
LoPresti Caterina,
Blanazs Adam,
Madsen Jeppe,
Armes Steven P.,
Lewis Andrew L.,
Battaglia Giuseppe
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.200900578
Subject(s) - polymersome , endocytic cycle , organelle , nanotechnology , cytosol , vesicle , amphiphile , cell , polymer , biophysics , artificial cell , endocytosis , chemistry , materials science , membrane , biology , copolymer , biochemistry , enzyme , organic chemistry
Cell cytosol and the different subcellular organelles house the most important biochemical processes that control cell functions. Effective delivery of bioactive agents within cells is expected to have an enormous impact on both gene therapy and the future development of new therapeutic and/or diagnostic strategies based on single‐cell–bioactive‐agent interactions. Herein a biomimetic nanovector is reported that is able to enter cells, escape from the complex endocytic pathway, and efficiently deliver actives within clinically relevant cells without perturbing their metabolic activity. This nanovector is based on the pH‐controlled self‐assembly of amphiphilic copolymers into nanometer‐sized vesicles (or polymersomes). The cellular‐uptake kinetics can be regulated by controlling the surface chemistry, the polymersome size, and the polymersome surface topology. The latter is controlled by the extent of polymer–polymer phase separation within the external envelope of the polymersome.