Issue 15, 2018

Physical stimuli-responsive liposomes and polymersomes as drug delivery vehicles based on phase transitions in the membrane

Abstract

This paper reviews liposomes with crystalline phase and polymersomes exhibiting crystalline and thermotropic liquid crystalline phases in the membrane. Intriguing morphologies of vesicles are described, including spherical, ellipsoidal and faceted vesicles, produced by a large variety of amphiphilic molecules and polymers with nematic phase, smectic phase or crystalline phase. It is highlighted how the phase transitions and the phase grain boundaries could be used ingeniously to destabilize the vesicular structure and to achieve cargo-release under the action of external stimulation. These liposomes and polymersomes are responsive to physical stimuli, such as temperature variation, shear stress, light illumination, and magnetic and electric fields. These stimuli-responsive properties make them promising candidates as new smart drug delivery systems.

Graphical abstract: Physical stimuli-responsive liposomes and polymersomes as drug delivery vehicles based on phase transitions in the membrane

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
01 2 2018
Accepted
09 3 2018
First published
09 3 2018

Nanoscale, 2018,10, 6781-6800

Physical stimuli-responsive liposomes and polymersomes as drug delivery vehicles based on phase transitions in the membrane

Y. Deng, J. Ling and M. Li, Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 6781 DOI: 10.1039/C8NR00923F

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