Abstract
One of the major engineering challenges for the implementation of block copolymer vesicles, or polymersomes, as therapeutic drug carriers is obtaining high encapsulation efficiencies for biomolecules. Here we present a novel method for encapsulation of proteins with high encapsulation efficiency within polymersomes formed from block copolymers of polyethylene glycol)-bl- poly(propylene sulfide). By formulation of the neat block copolymer with a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol), direct hydration of the formulated mixture yielded polymersomes. We were able to achieve encapsulation efficiencies for ovalbumin at 37%, bovine serum albumin at 19%, and bovine y-globulin at 15% when the proteins were included in the hydration solution. The formulation process and the dispersion of polymersomes from the preparation in phosphate-buffered saline were characterized using confocal microscopy, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and fluorimetry. We were also successful in the encapsulation of proteinase K, a proteolytic enzyme, and demonstrated by SDS-PAGE that the enzyme was contained inside polymersomes when dispersed in a solution of ovalbumin.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 9025-9029 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Langmuir |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 16 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 18 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Spectroscopy
- Electrochemistry