Physics Colloquium: Block Copolymer Crystalline Vesicles with Ultrathin Shell to Extend Blood ...

Thursday, October 18, 2018

3:30 PM-4:30 PM

Christopher Li, PhD, Drexel University

Block Copolymer Crystalline Vesicles with Ultrathin Shell to Extend Blood Circulation Time

Like lipids, amphiphilic block copolymers (BCPs) that are comprised of hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments can self-assemble into various micelle structures depicting curved liquid/liquid interface. Crystallization, which is incommensurate with this curved space, often leads to defect accumulation and renders the structures leaky, undermining their potential biomedical applications. In this talk, I will discuss using an emulsion-solution crystallization method to control the crystallization of an amphiphilic BCP at curved liquid/liquid interface. The resultant BCP crystalsomes (BCCs) structurally mimic classical liposomes yet mechanically are more robust because of the single crystal-like crystalline shell. These BCCs are also nearly impermeable to hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. In blood circulation and biodistribution experiments, fluorophore-loaded BCCs show a prolonged circulation half-life. We further demonstrate this excellent performance is attributed to controlled polymer crystallization and the unique BCC nanostructure.

Contact Information

ProfessorJian-Min Yuan
yuanjm3@gmail.com