Evaluation of polymersome permeability as a fundamental aspect towards the development of artificial cells and nanofactories

Autor(es)

Rosso, Anabella P. ; de Oliveira, Fernando A. ; Guegan, Philippe ; Jager, Eliezer ; Giacomelli, Fernando C.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science; v. 671, p. 12-pg., 2024-05-24.

Resumo

Polymersomes are synthetic vesicles with potential use in healthcare, chemical transformations in confined environment (nanofactories), and in the construction of artificial cells and organelles. In this framework, one of the most important features of such supramolecular structures is the permeability behavior allowing for selective control of mass exchange between the inner and outer compartments. The use of biological and synthetic nanopores in this regard is the most common strategy to impart permeability nevertheless, this typically requires fairly complex strategies to enable porosity. Yet, investigations concerning the permeability of polymer vesicles to different analytes still requires further exploration and, taking these considerations into account, we have detailed investigated the permeability behavior of a variety of polymersomes with regard to different analytes (water, protons, and rhodamine B) which were selected as models for solvents, ions, and small molecules. Polymersomes based on hydrophilic blocks of poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (PHPMA) or PEO (poly (ethylene oxide)) linked to the non-responsive blocks poly[N-(4-isopropylphenylacetamide)ethyl methacrylate] (PPPhA) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), or to the stimuli pH-responsive block poly[2-(diisopropylamino) ethyl methacrylate] (PDPA) have been investigated. Interestingly, the produced PEO-based vesicles are notably larger than the ones produced using PHPMA-containing block copolymers. The experimental results reveal that all the vesicles are inherently permeable to some extent with permeability behavior following exponential profiles. Nevertheless, polymersomes based on PMMA as the hydrophobic component were demonstrated to be the least permeable to the small molecule rhodamine B as well as to water. The synthetic vesicles based on the pH -responsive PDPA block exhibited restrictive and notably slow proton permeability as attributed to partial chain protonation upon acidification of the medium. The dye permeability was evidenced to be much slower than ion or solvent diffusion, and in the case of pH -responsive assemblies, it was demonstrated to also depend on the ionic strength of the environment. These findings are understood to be highly relevant towards polymer selection for the production of synthetic vesicles with selective and time -dependent permeability, and it may thus contribute in advancing biomimicry and nanomedicine. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 21/12071-6 - Arquitetando coloides via interações supramoleculares: de fundamentos a aplicações
• Beneficiário: Watson Loh
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 23/00558-3 - Polimerossomos contendo nanocanais biomiméticos para reações enzimáticas em espaços confinados
• Beneficiário: Fernando Carlos Giacomelli
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 22/14668-2 - Manufatura de polimerossomos com permeabilidade seletiva para utilização como nanoreatores para biocatálise
• Beneficiário: Anabella Patricia Rosso
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado