Positively Charged Biodegradable Polymersomes with Structure Inherent Fluorescence as Artificial Organelles

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 (GOx/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.

Polymer Vesicles with Integrated Photothermal Responsiveness

Functionalized polymer vesicles have been proven to be highly promising in biomedical applications due to their good biocompatibility, easy processability, and multifunctional responsive capacities. However, photothermal-responsive polymer vesicles triggered by near-infrared (NIR) light have not been widely reported until now. Herein, we propose a new strategy for designing NIR light-mediated photothermal polymer vesicles. A small molecule (PTA) with NIR-triggered photothermal features was synthesized by combining a D-D'-A-D'-D configuration framework with a molecular rotor function (TPE). The feasibility of the design strategy was demonstrated through density functional theory calculations. PTA moieties were introduced in the hydrophobic segment of a poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(trimethylene carbonate) block copolymer, of which the carbonate monomers were modified in the side chain with an active ester group. The amphiphilic block copolymers (PEG44-PTA2) were then used as building blocks for the self-assembly of photothermal-responsive polymer vesicles. The new class of functionalized polymer vesicles inherited the NIR-mediated high photothermal performance of the photothermal agent (PTA). After NIR laser irradiation for 10 min, the temperature of the PTA-Ps aqueous solution was raised to 56 °C. The photothermal properties and bilayer structure of PTA-Ps after laser irradiation were still intact, which demonstrated that they could be applied as a robust platform in photothermal therapy. Besides their photothermal performance, the loading capacity of PTA-Ps was investigated as well. Hydrophobic cargo (Cy7) and hydrophilic cargo (Sulfo-Cy5) were successfully encapsulated in the PTA-Ps. These properties make this new class of functionalized polymer vesicles an interesting platform for synergistic therapy in anticancer treatment.

Compartmentalized Intracellular Click Chemistry with Biodegradable Polymersomes

Polymersome nanoreactors that can be employed as artificial organelles have gained much interest over the past decades. Such systems often include biological catalysts (i.e., enzymes) so that they can undertake chemical reactions in cellulo. Examples of nanoreactor artificial organelles that acquire metal catalysts in their structure are limited, and their application in living cells remains fairly restricted. In part, this shortfall is due to difficulties associated with constructing systems that maintain their stability in vitro, let alone the toxicity they impose on cells. This study demonstrates a biodegradable and biocompatible polymersome nanoreactor platform, which can be applied as an artificial organelle in living cells. The ability of the artificial organelles to covalently and non-covalently incorporate tris(triazolylmethyl)amine-Cu(I) complexes in their membrane is shown. Such artificial organelles are capable of effectively catalyzing a copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition intracellularly, without compromising the cells' integrity. The platform represents a step forward in the application of polymersome-based nanoreactors as artificial organelles.

Responsive Peptide Nanofibers with Theranostic and Prognostic Capacity

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a highly promising therapeutic modality for cancer treatment. The development of stimuli-responsive photosensitizer nanomaterials overcomes certain limitations in clinical PDT. Herein, we report the rational design of a highly sensitive PEGylated photosensitizer-peptide nanofiber (termed PHHPEG 6 NF) that selectively aggregates in the acidic tumor and lysosomal microenvironment. These nanofibers exhibit acid-induced enhanced singlet oxygen generation, cellular uptake, and PDT efficacy in vitro , as well as fast tumor accumulation, long-term tumor imaging capacity and effective PDT in vivo . Moreover, based on the prolonged presence of the fluorescent signal at the tumor site, we demonstrate that PHHPEG 6 NFs can also be applied for prognostic monitoring of the efficacy of PDT in vivo , which would potentially guide cancer treatment. Therefore, these multifunctional PHHPEG 6 NFs allow control over the entire PDT process, from visualization of photosensitizer accumulation, via actual PDT to the assessment of the efficacy of the treatment.

Artificial Organelles: Towards Adding or Restoring Intracellular Activity

Compartmentalization is one of the main characteristics that define living systems. Creating a physically separated microenvironment allows nature a better control over biological processes, as is clearly specified by the role of organelles in living cells. Inspired by this phenomenon, researchers have developed a range of different approaches to create artificial organelles: compartments with catalytic activity that add new function to living cells. In this review we will discuss three complementary lines of investigation. First, orthogonal chemistry approaches are discussed, which are based on the incorporation of catalytically active transition metal-containing nanoparticles in living cells. The second approach involves the use of premade hybrid nanoreactors, which show transient function when taken up by living cells. The third approach utilizes mostly genetic engineering methods to create bio-based structures that can be ultimately integrated with the cell's genome to make them constitutively active. The current state of the art and the scope and limitations of the field will be highlighted with selected examples from the three approaches.

Enzyme-Activatable Cell-Penetrating Peptides through a Minimal Side Chain Modification

Activatable cell-penetrating peptides are of great interest in drug delivery because of their enhanced selectivity which can be controlled by the external stimuli that trigger their activation. The use of a specific enzymatic reaction to trigger uptake of an inert peptide offers a relevant targeting strategy because the activation process takes place in a short time and only in areas where the specific cell surface enzyme is present. To this aim, the lysine side chain of Tat peptides was modified with an enzyme-cleavable domain of minimal size. This yielded blocked Tat-peptides which were inactive but that could be activated by coincubation with the selected enzymes.