Self-assembled biodegradable polymersomes
AssigneeThe Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
InventorsMichael J. Therien, Daniel A. Hammer, Paiman Peter Ghoroghchian, Guizhi Li
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Abstract
The invention concerns a block copolymer of polyethylene oxide and polycaprolactone, the polyethylene oxide having a number average molecular weight from about 2.0 to about 3.8 kD, the block copolymer having a fraction of polyethylene oxide of from about 11.8 to 18.8 percent by weight. The invention also concerns polymersomes made from such copolymers and to methods of making the polymersomes.
Claims48
A vesicle comprising a block copolymer of polyethylene oxide and polycaprolactone, the polyethylene oxide having a number average molecular weight from about 2.0 to about 3.8 kD, the block copolymer having a fraction of polyethylene oxide from about 11 to about 20 percent by weight.
A vesicle consisting essentially of a block copolymer of polyethylene oxide and polycaprolactone, the polyethylene oxide having a number average molecular weight from about 2.0 to about 3.8 kD, the block copolymer having a fraction of polyethylene oxide from about 11 to about 20 percent by weight.
A vesicle comprising a block copolymer in which at least one block is polyethyleneoxide and one block is polycaprolcatone, the polyethylene oxide having a number average molecular weight from about 2.0 to about 3.8 kD, the block copolymer having a fraction of polyethylene oxide of from about 11 to about 20 percent by weight.
A vesicle consisting essentially of a block copolymer in which at least one block is polyethyleneoxide and one block is polycaprolcatone, the polyethylene oxide having a number average molecular weight from about 2.0 to about 3.8 kD, the block copolymer having a fraction of polyethylene oxide of from about 11 to about 20 percent by weight.
A method for making bioresorbable polymersomes comprising:
- coating a solution of a block copolymer consisting of polyethylene oxide and polycaprolactone, dissolved in a solvent, into a thin-film on a surface;
- evaporating at least a portion of the solvent;
- contacting the film, coated with the block copolymer, with an aqueous solution;
- and
- heating the aqueous solution at temperature of at least about 50° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.