THERMO-RESPONSIVE BLOCK CO-POLYMERS, AND USE THEREOF

摘要

Provided are thermo-responsive polymersomes, which display cold-controlled encapsulation near the physiological temperatures, and have a PDI less than 1.2. Morphology of the thermo- responsive polymersomes is a function of the weight fraction of the hydrophilic block in the block copolymer and the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the block copolymer. When the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) is at, or slightly above physiological temperature, the thermo-responsive block displays hydrophobic properties, such that the block copolymer self-assembles in aqueous solution to form a polymersome with the thermo- responsive block occupying the core of the polymersome and the hydrophilic block occupying the corona of the polymersome. Below the LCST, the thermo-responsive block displays hydrophilic properties, such that the polymersome dissociates, providing fast release of an active agent encapsulated therein.