Tuning the morphology of block copolymer-based pH-triggered nanoplatforms as driven by changes in molecular weight and protocol of manufacturing

Author(s)

de Oliveira, Fernando A. ; Batista, Carin C. S. ; Albuquerque, Lindomar J. C. ; Cernoch, Peter ; Steinhart, Milos ; Sincari, Vladimir ; Jager, Alessandro ; Jager, Eliezer ; Giacomelli, Fernando C.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science; v. 635, p. 11-pg., 2023-04-01.

Abstract

The ability to tune size and morphology of self-assemblies is particularly relevant in the development of delivery systems. By tailoring such structural parameters, one can provide larger cargo spaces or produce nanocarriers that can be loaded by hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules starting ideally from the same polymer building unit. We herein demonstrate that the morphology of block copolymer-based pHtriggered nanoplatforms produced from poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline)m-b-poly[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate]n (PMeOxm-b-PDPAn) is remarkably influenced by the overall molecular weight of the block copolymer, and by the selected method used to produce the self-assemblies. Polymeric vesicles were produced by nanoprecipitation using a block copolymer of relatively low molecular weight (Mn ti 10 kg.mol-1). Very exciting though, despite the high hydrophobic weight ratio (wPDPA > 0.70), this method conducted to the formation of core-shell nanoparticles when block copolymers of higher molecular weight were used, thus suggesting that the fast (few seconds) self-assembly procedure is controlled by kinetics rather than thermodynamics. We further demonstrated the formation of vesicular structures using longer chains via the solvent-switch approach when the "switching" to the bad solvent is performed in a time scale of a few hours (approximately 3 hs). We accordingly demonstrate that using fairly simple methods one can easily tailor the morphology of such block copolymer self-assemblies, thereby producing a variety of structurally different pH-triggered nanoplatforms via a kinetic or thermodynamically-controlled process. This is certainly attractive towards the development of nanotechnology-based cargo delivery systems. (c) 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/24603-7 - Surface chemistry effects on the formation of protein corona over nano-sized silver colloids and its implications on cytotoxicity and biomedical applications
• Grantee: Carin Cristina da Silva Batista
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/23844-8 - Biodegradable and pH-responsive polymersomes for gene and protein delivery
• Grantee: Lindomar Jose Calumby Albuquerque
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/12944-0 - Structural and biological evaluations of polyplexes obtained by the complexation of DNA and polyethylenimine derivatives containing alkyl chains and lactose towards the treatment of genetic eye disorders
• Grantee: Fernando Augusto de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/06634-8 - Manufacturing and biological evaluations of stimuli-responsive polymersomes towards enhanced efficacy of cancer therapies
• Grantee: Fernando Carlos Giacomelli
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/12071-6 - Tailoring colloids through supramolecular interactions: from fundamentals to applications
• Grantee: Watson Loh
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants