Self-Assembled Block Copolymer Aggregates: From Micelles to Vesicles and their Biological Applications

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 30; no. 4-5; pp. 267 - 277
• Main Authors: Blanazs, Adam, Armes, Steven P., Ryan, Anthony J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 18.02.2009; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; biological applications of polymers; diblock copolymers; drug delivery systems; enzymes; Exact sciences and technology; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Organic polymers; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Physicochemistry of polymers; Properties and characterization; self-assembly; Solution and gel properties; Vesicle; Chemical solution; drug delivery systems; State of the art; Control release polymer; diblock copolymers; Drug carrier; enzymes; biological applications of polymers; self-assembly; Molecular aggregation; Block copolymer; Amphiphilic polymer
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.200800713

The ability of amphiphilic block copolymers to self‐assemble in selective solvents has been widely studied in academia and utilized for various commercial products. The self‐assembled polymer vesicle is at the forefront of this nanotechnological revolution with seemingly endless possible uses, ranging from biomedical to nanometer‐scale enzymatic reactors. This review is focused on the inherent advantages in using polymer vesicles over their small molecule lipid counterparts and the potential applications in biology for both drug delivery and synthetic cellular reactors.