Twenty-five years of polymersomes: lost in translation?

Abstract

Soon after the discovery of polymeric vesicles (polymersomes), reports of their high membrane stability raised hopes for the development of next generation vesicles for drug delivery and diagnostic applications. Twenty-five years later, however, liposomes remain the only clinically tested colloidal vesicular formulations. To highlight the translational challenges faced by polymersomes, we critically reviewed a selection of polymersome formulations with a focus on their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects.