Monodispersed polymeric nanocapsules: spontaneous evolution and morphology transition from reducible hetero-PEG PICmicelles by controlled degradation.
In this communication, a novel "self-templating" strategy was used to prepare uniform and biocompatible nanocapsules by the addition of a reduction agent (i.e., DTT) into a solution of highly monodispersed PICmicelles bearing a heterodetachable PEG corona. PEG chains were released from PICmicelle shells following disulfide reduction which leads a spontaneous and drastic morphology evolution from micelles to vesicles induced by the decrease of the PEG weight fraction. Formation of uniform nanocapsules with controllable capsule size was achieved by careful control of the micelle composition and molecular weight of homo-P[Asp(DET)].
Dong
Wen-Fei
WF
Department of Materials Engineering, and Center for NanoBio Integration, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
Kishimura
Akihiro
A
Anraku
Yasutaka
Y
Chuanoi
Sayan
S
Kataoka
Kazunori
K
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D004220:Disulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes; D008823:Micelles; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D044367:Phase Transition; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers; D019163:Reducing Agents
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004220:Disulfides; D008081:Liposomes; D008823:Micelles; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011108:Polymers; D019163:Reducing Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols