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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Formulation of Diblock Polymeric Nanoparticles through Nanoprecipitation Technique
Published on: September 20, 2011
pH-Responsive Diblock Copolymer Vesicles via Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly in Aqueous Media: Synthesis,
Jake G Edmans1,2, Asma El-Howati2, Klaudia M Slowik2
1Dainton Building, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Sheffield, Brook Hill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S3 7HF, U.K.
Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) creates pH-responsive copolymer vesicles for drug delivery. These vesicles efficiently encapsulate biomacromolecules and release them in acidic conditions, advancing nanomedicine.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) enables efficient biomacromolecule encapsulation in diblock copolymer vesicles.
- Stimuli-responsive vesicles are crucial for targeted drug delivery, particularly for intracellular release.
- Existing methods often require separate loading steps, limiting efficiency and applicability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop pH-responsive copolymer vesicles using PISA for controlled release of biomacromolecules.
- To investigate the encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics of antibody fragments and plasmid DNA.
- To demonstrate the potential of these vesicles for biotherapeutic delivery applications.
Main Methods:
- Reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) aqueous dispersion copolymerization of HPMA and MEMA using a PGMA precursor.
- Synthesis of PGMA-P(HPMA-stat-MEMA) copolymer vesicles.
- Encapsulation of F(ab) antibody fragments and plasmid DNA during PISA.
- Characterization of vesicle pH-responsiveness and release profiles.
- Nanoflow cytometry for assessing cellular uptake.
Main Results:
- PGMA-P(HPMA-stat-MEMA) vesicles exhibited tunable pH-responsive dissociation between pH 3.5 and 6.
- High encapsulation efficiency (42 ± 4%) for F(ab) antibody fragments, retaining functionality.
- Antibody fragments were released at pH ≤5.25, and plasmid DNA encapsulation was confirmed.
- Vesicles were successfully taken up by human keratinocytes.
Conclusions:
- PISA provides a versatile method for creating stimuli-responsive vesicles for efficient biomacromolecule encapsulation and controlled release.
- These pH-responsive vesicles are promising for advanced drug delivery systems, particularly for intracellular biotherapeutics.
- This approach eliminates the need for post-polymerization loading, simplifying the process and expanding nanomedicine potential.
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