Geodesy

Mathematics education

Biology

Traverse

Materials science

Polymersome

Photothermal effect

Geology

Polymer

Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

Amphiphile

Mathematics

Geography

Copolymer

Photothermal therapy

Composite material

Microscale chemistry

Chemistry

Biophysics

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Synthetic nanomotors are appealing delivery vehicles for the dynamic transport of functional cargo. Their translation toward biological applications is limited owing to the use of non-degradable components. Furthermore, size has been an impediment owing to the importance of achieving nanoscale (ca. 100 nm) dimensions, as opposed to microscale examples that are prevalent. Herein, we present a hybrid nanomotor that can be activated by near-infrared (NIR)-irradiation for the triggered delivery of internal cargo and facilitated transport of external agents to the cell. Utilizing biodegradable poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(d,l-lactide) (PEG-PDLLA) block copolymers, with the two blocks connected via a pH sensitive imine bond, we generate nanoscopic polymersomes that are then modified with a hemispherical gold nanocoat. This Janus morphology allows such hybrid polymersomes to undergoing photothermal motility in response to thermal gradients generated by plasmonic absorbance of NIR irradiation, with velocities ranging up to 6.2±1.10 μm s-1 . These polymersome nanomotors (PNMs) are capable of traversing cellular membranes allowing intracellular delivery of molecular and macromolecular cargo.

Photoactivated Polymersome Nanomotors: Traversing Biological Barriers