Positively Charged Biodegradable Polymersomes with Structure Inherent Fluorescence as Artificial Organelles.
Roy A J F OerlemansShoupeng CaoJianhong WangYudong LiYingtong LuoJingxin ShaoLoai K E A AbdelmohsenJan C M Van HestPublished in: Biomacromolecules (2024)
Polymersomes, nanosized polymeric vesicles, have attracted significant interest in the areas of artificial cells and nanomedicine. Given their size, their visualization via confocal microscopy techniques is often achieved through the physical incorporation of fluorescent dyes, which however present challenges due to potential leaching. A promising alternative is the incorporation of molecules with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior that are capable of fluorescing exclusively in their assembled state. Here, we report on the use of AIE polymersomes as artificial organelles, which are capable of undertaking enzymatic reactions in vitro. The ability of our polymersome-based artificial organelles to provide additional functionality to living cells was evaluated by encapsulating catalytic enzymes such as a combination of glucose oxidase/horseradish peroxidase (GO x /HRP) or β-galactosidase (β-gal). Via the additional incorporation of a pyridinium functionality, not only the cellular uptake is improved at low concentrations but also our platform's potential to specifically target mitochondria expands.
Keyphrases
- living cells
- fluorescent probe
- single molecule
- drug delivery
- hydrogen peroxide
- induced apoptosis
- physical activity
- cancer therapy
- high throughput
- blood pressure
- cell death
- heavy metals
- human health
- metabolic syndrome
- type diabetes
- oxidative stress
- nitric oxide
- cell proliferation
- blood glucose
- skeletal muscle
- signaling pathway
- risk assessment