New Article in Journal of the American Chemical Society

An article on multiple polymersomes and their programmed release of multiple components has been accepted for publication in Journal of the American Chemical Society.

We report a microfluidic approach to produce multiple polymersomes, or polymersomes-in-polymersome by design, enabling encapsulation and programmed release of multiple components. Monodisperse polymersomes are prepared from templates of double-emulsion drops, which in turn are injected as the innermost phase to form the second level of double-emulsion drops, producing double polymersomes. Using the same strategy, higher-order polymersomes are also prepared. In addition, incorporation of hydrophobic homopolymer into the different bilayers of the multiple polymersomes enables controlled and sequential dissociation of the different bilayer membranes in a programmed fashion. The high encapsulation efficiency of this microfluidic approach, as well as its programmability and the biocompatibility of the materials used to form the polymersomes will provide new opportunities for practical delivery systems of multiple components.

Shin-Hyun Kim, Ho Cheung Shum, Jin Woong Kim, Jun-Cheol Cho, and David A. Weitz, “Multiple Polymersomes for Programmed Release of Multiple Components,” Journal of the American Chemical Society, Accepted for publication (2011).