Dual responsive polymersomes as versatile, intelligent labeling system in biosensing

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.157165
• Publication Date: 2024-10-29T10:05:54Z
• Authors: Jennifer Quinchia; Andrés F. Cruz-Pa...; Daniel Ruiz-Molina; Jahir Orozco
• Keywords: Polymersome

The ability to manipulate artificial nanosystems is still one of the current challenges in devel-oping multifunctional nanomaterials. Those based on the photochromic effect are particularly interesting because of structural and functional control by the transient activation/inactivation with high spatiotemporal resolution. To mimic the photocontrol of natural nanosystems, we developed the first photochromic polymersomes from the novel poly(ethylene-alt-maleic an-hydride)-random-aminoazobenzene copolymer (PEMA-r-AAB) and its derivatives. Ultraviolet (UV)-triggered azobenzene (AZO) moieties’ medium-dependent isomerization from non-polar trans- to polar cis-AZO controls polymersome’s bilayer selective permeability. As a result, small hydrophilic molecules loaded inside polymersomes can be released according to the release profiles, while those outside the polymersome bilayer can eventually penetrate it. Remarkably, as a new look, cargo photorelease from the nanopolymersomes was studied in real-time by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Finally, as a proof-of-concept, horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-loaded polymersomes were assembled as an intelligent labeling system of an optical biosensor of interleukin-6 (IL-6). This synthesis route can be exploited with other photo-switching AZO derivatives, paving the way toward new AZO compound-based nanocarrier systems.<br/>The work has been funded by MINCIENCIAS, MINEDUCACIÓN, MINCIT, and ICETEX through the Program Ecosistema Científico Cod. FP44842-211-2018, project number 58536. J.O thanks support from The University of Antioquia and the Max Planck Society through the cooperation agreement 566-1, 2014. In addition, we thank The Ruta N complex and EPM for hosting the Max Planck Tandem Groups. This work was partially supported by grant PID2021-127983OB-C21 financed by MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and ERDF A Way to Make Europe.<br/>Peer reviewed<br/>