Chimeric/mixed stimuli-responsive nanocarriers are promising agents for therapeutic and diagnostic applications, as well as in the combinatorial field of theranostics. Herein, we designed chimeric nanosystems, composed of natural phospholipid and pH-sensitive amphiphilic diblock copolymer, in different molar ratios and assessed the polymer lyotropic effect on their properties. Initially, polymer-grafted bilayers were evaluated for their thermotropic behavior by thermal analysis. Chimeric liposomes were prepared through thin-film hydration and the obtained vesicles were studied by light scattering techniques, to measure their physicochemical characteristics and colloidal stability, as well as by imaging techniques, to elucidate their global and membrane morphology. Finally, in vitro screening of the systems' toxicity was held. The copolymer effect on the membrane phase transition strongly depended on the pH of the surrounding environment. Chimeric nanoparticles were around and above 100 nm, while electron microscopy revealed occasional morphology diversity, probably affecting the toxicity of the systems. The latter was assessed to be tolerable, while dependent on the nanosystems' material concentration, polymer concentration, and polymer composition. All experiments suggested that the thermodynamic and biophysical properties of the nanosystems are copolymer-composition- and concentration-dependent, since different amounts of incorporated polymer would produce divergent effects on the lyotropic liquid crystal membrane. Certain chimeric systems can be exploited as advanced drug delivery nanosystems, based on their overall promising profiles.
Keywords: amphiphilic biomaterials; biophysics; chimeric nanosystems; lyotropism; pH-responsive.