1 research outputs found
Stomatocyte in Stomatocyte: A New Shape of Polymersome Induced via Chemical-Addition Methodology
Accurate control
of the shape transformation of polymersome is
an important and interesting challenge that spans across disciplines
such as nanomedicine and nanomachine. Here, we report a fast and facile
methodology of shape manipulation of polymersome via out-of-equilibrium
polymer self-assembly and shape change by chemical addition of additives.
Due to its increased permeability, hydrophilicity, and fusogenic properties,
poly(ethylene oxide) was selected as the additive for bringing the
system out of equilibrium via fast addition into the polymersome organic
solution. A new shape, stomatocyte-in-stomatocyte (sto-in-sto), is
obtained for the first time. Moreover, fast shape transformation within
less than 1 min to other relevant shapes such as stomatocyte and large
compound vesicles was also obtained and accurately controlled in a
uniform dispersion. This methodology is demonstrated as a general
strategy with which to push the assembly further out of equilibrium
to generate unusual nanostructures in a controllable and fast manner