Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...

Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Enhanced Diffusion and Retention of Proteoglycan Replacements in Cartilage through Thermoresponsive Polyelectrolytes.

Macromolecules·2026

Same author

Oppositely Charged Single Enzyme Nanogels Form Versatile Coacervates for Efficient Enzyme Cascade Catalysis.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same author

Engineering a Transmembrane Receptor for Coacervate-Based Artificial Cells.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same author

Fine structural tuning of the assembly of elastin-collagen peptide conjugates with drug loading and manipulation of molecular interactions.

Biomaterials science·2026

Same author

Converging frontiers in biomolecular condensate and synthetic cell research.

npj biomedical innovations·2026

Same author

Bio-Propelled Stomatocyte Nanomotors with Glutathione-Responsiveness for Osteoarthritis Treatment.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Modulating Shape of Polyester Based Polymersomes using Osmotic Pressure

Modulating Shape of Polyester Based Polymersomes using Osmotic Pressure

Published on: April 21, 2021

Polymersome stomatocytes: controlled shape transformation in polymer vesicles.

Kyoung Taek Kim¹, Jiahua Zhu, Silvie A Meeuwissen

¹School of Nano-Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan 689-798, Korea.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|August 20, 2010

Summary

Researchers achieved controllable shape transformation in polymersomes (polymer vesicles) by kinetically manipulating the phase behavior of their glassy hydrophobic segments. This method creates robust, unusual nanostructures with predictable shapes.

More Related Videos

Forming Giant-sized Polymersomes Using Gel-assisted Rehydration

Forming Giant-sized Polymersomes Using Gel-assisted Rehydration

Published on: May 26, 2016

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Published on: August 2, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Modulating Shape of Polyester Based Polymersomes using Osmotic Pressure

Modulating Shape of Polyester Based Polymersomes using Osmotic Pressure

Published on: April 21, 2021

Forming Giant-sized Polymersomes Using Gel-assisted Rehydration

Forming Giant-sized Polymersomes Using Gel-assisted Rehydration

Published on: May 26, 2016

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Published on: August 2, 2012

Area of Science:

Polymer Science
Materials Science
Nanotechnology

Background:

Polymersomes are versatile nanostructures with potential applications in drug delivery and materials science.
Controlling the shape of polymersomes is challenging, limiting their structural diversity and robustness.
Existing methods often lack precise control over shape transformation and long-term structural integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a controllable method for shape transformation in polymersomes.
To create physically robust nanostructures with diverse and unusual morphologies.
To combine the shape variability of giant liposomes with the stability of polymersomes.

Main Methods:

Constructing polymersomes from block copolymers with a high-molecular-weight glassy hydrophobic segment.
Employing kinetic manipulation of the phase behavior of the glassy hydrophobic segment.
Capturing specific polymersome shapes at defined time points during the kinetic process.

Main Results:

Achieved controllable shape transformation in polymersomes.
Demonstrated the ability to kinetically control phase behavior for shape determination.
Produced physically robust nanostructures with unique and previously unobtainable shapes.
Successfully combined morphological diversity with structural integrity.

Conclusions:

Kinetic manipulation of glassy polymer membranes offers a general and predictable route to unusual nanostructures.
This approach provides a powerful tool for designing advanced polymersomes with tailored shapes and enhanced stability.
The findings open new avenues for creating novel nanomaterials with precise structural control.