Method of making a polymersome
AssigneeETH Zurich
InventorsJean-Christophe Leroux, Simon Matoori, Olha Voznyuk Wuerthinger
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Abstract
The present invention provides polymersomes comprising amphiphilic block-copolymers and their use to quantify ammonia in samples (e.g., body fluid samples). More particularly, it provides a polymersome comprising (a) a membrane, which comprises a block copolymer of poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), wherein the PS/PEO molecular weight ratio is higher than 1.0 and lower than 4.0; and (b) a core which encloses an acid and at least one pH-sensitive dye. Compositions, strips and kits comprising the polymersomes are also provided along with methods of quantifying ammonia in a sample using the polymersomes, compositions and kit.
Claims14
A method of making a polymersome comprising (a) a membrane, which comprises a block copolymer of poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), wherein the PS/PEO molecular weight ratio is higher than 1.0 and lower than 4.0;
- and (b) a core which encloses an acid and at least one pH-sensitive dye, comprising:
- (a) dissolving the block copolymer of PS and PEO in an organic solvent, to form a copolymer-containing organic phase;
- (b) mixing the copolymer-containing organic solvent phase with an aqueous phase containing the acid and the at least one pH-sensitive dye so as to form the polymersome;
- and
- (c) removing the unencapsulated at least one pH-sensitive dye and organic solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.