Oxidation-Sensitive Polymersomes Based on Amphiphilic Diblock Copolypeptoids

Biomacromolecules. 2019 Sep 9;20(9):3435-3444. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00713. Epub 2019 Aug 13.

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive polymersomes formed by amphiphilic block copolymers have attracted substantial attention as smart and robust containers for drug delivery and nano/microreactors. Biosourced amphiphilic diblock copolypeptoids were developed that can self-assemble into oxidation-responsive unilamellar vesicles. These vesicles can burst under the action of reactive oxygen species which can be the hydrogen peroxide or the singlet oxygen produced by light-activation of a photosensitizer with spatiotemporal control. Polysarcosine (PSar, also called poly(N-methyl glycine)) was selected as the hydrophilic block because of its resistance to protein adsorption and low toxicity, similar to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). We designed and synthesized poly(N-3-(methylthio)propyl glycine) as the hydrophobic block. Its polyglycine backbone is the same as that of PSar, and especially, its hydrophobic N-substituents, thioether side chains, can be oxidized to hydrophilic sulfoxides. These oxidation-responsive polymersomes entirely based on N-substituted poly(amino acid)s were biocompatible as confirmed by cell viability tests and may find applications in drug delivery, biosensing, biodetection, and nano/microreactors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption / drug effects
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions / drug effects
  • Lactates / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polymers / pharmacology
  • Sarcosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Sarcosine / chemical synthesis
  • Sarcosine / chemistry
  • Sarcosine / pharmacology
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry
  • Surface-Active Agents / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Lactates
  • Peptides
  • Polymers
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • poly(lactic acid-ethylene glycol)
  • polyglycine
  • polysarcosine
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Sarcosine