title: Controlling polymersome surface topology at the nanoscale by membrane confined polymer/polymer phase separation.
abstract: Nature has the exquisite ability to design specific surface patterns and topologies on both the macro- and nanolength scales that relate to precise functions. Following a biomimetic approach, we have engineered fully synthetic nanoparticles that are able to self-organize their surface into controlled domains. We focused on polymeric vesicles or "polymersomes"; enclosed membranes formed via self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers in water. Exploiting the intrinsic thermodynamic tendency of dissimilar polymers to undergo phase separation, we mixed different vesicle-forming block copolymers in various proportions in order to obtain a wide range of polymersomes with differing surface domains. Using a combination of confocal laser scanning microscopy studies of micrometer-sized polymersomes, and electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy on nanometer-sized polymersomes, we find that the domains exhibit similar shapes on both the micro- and nanolength scales, with dimensions that are linearly proportional to the vesicle diameter. Finally, we demonstrate that such control over the surface "patchiness" of these polymersomes determines their cell internalization kinetics for live cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: LoPresti
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massignani
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernyhough
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanazs
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Jeppe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Armes
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Somyot
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chirasatitsin
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Engler
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Battaglia
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers