Cross-Linked Polymersomes with Reversible Deformability and Oxygen Transportability.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Polymersomes, robust nanocarriers from block copolymers, face limitations in transmembrane diffusion and mechanical responsiveness.
• Existing polymer nanocarriers struggle to balance structural integrity with deformability and efficient gas transport.
• Development of adaptable nanocarriers is crucial for advanced applications like gas transport vehicles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer polymersomes with enhanced physical robustness and reversible deformability.
• To create polymer nanocarriers capable of efficient transmembrane gas diffusion and mechanical adaptability.
• To investigate the potential of these polymersomes as oxygen (O2) carriers.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized amphiphilic block copolymers containing polydimethylsiloxane with vinyl groups.
• Formed self-assembled bilayers and achieved covalent cross-linkage via photoradical generation in aqueous media.
• Evaluated polymersome deformability under stress and confirmed transmembrane oxygen diffusion using Zn-porphyrin and an O2 quencher.

Main Results:

• Covalently cross-linked polymersomes demonstrated superior physical robustness over unlinked counterparts.
• The cross-linked polymersomes maintained deformability under mechanical stress.
• Confirmed transmembrane oxygen diffusion and reversible oxygen binding by encapsulated hemoglobin.

Conclusions:

• Developed reversibly deformable polymersomes with enhanced structural integrity via covalent cross-linking.
• These polymersomes facilitate transmembrane oxygen diffusion and exhibit reversible oxygen transport capabilities.
• The engineered polymersomes show promise as advanced oxygen carriers for gas transport applications.