Synthesis of Photo-Responsive Block Copolymers for Active Control of Molecular Transport in Artificial Cell-Like Polymersomes
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초록
내용
One of the bottom-up approaches to prepare artificial cells is using droplet microfluidics to assemble polymer-based vesicles, or polymersomes. Microfluidic synthesis allows precise size control and reliable encapsulation of biomolecules within these polymersomes with exceptional stability and chemical versatility. Among various building blocks, polybutadiene-polyethylene oxide exhibits nontoxicity and excellent stability. While the hydrophilic-hydrophobic volume ratio and the molecular weight can be adjusted to tune the intrinsic permeability of the polymersome, the molecular transport across the membrane cannot be altered externally once the building block is set. Herein, we synthesize a photo-isomeric analogue of these PB-PEO based on azo-compounds followed by assembly using microfluidics to achieve photo-responsive polymersomes. As block copolymers undergo isomerization, the molecular transport can be precisely controlled, offering a new route in controlling biochemical reactions.