Functional polymersomes

Vacant position at this moment (PBM group)

Background

Recently, the first biodegradable polymersomes were developed within the Polymer Science and Biomaterials group (PBM). These polymersomes are polymeric vesicles that are formed by self-assembly of block copolymers that contain a hydrophobic biodegradable part and a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) part with a molecular weight such that it can be excreted by the human body. By using chemical functional poly(ethylene oxide), a polymersome surface is obtained that can be chemically modified. For instance, the surface can be provided with ‘homing devices’, such as antibodies which impart the crucial function to the polymersomes that, once administered to the blood circulation, they recognize specific sites in the human body. The confined inside of the polymersome can be used for storage of bio-active agents or enzymes that need to be delivered to specific sites within the human body.

Objective

In this project the aim is to add a stimulus response system to these polymersomes, as a first step towards a functional ‘artificial cell’. The first step is to modify the polymersome membrane on the nanometer level, for example by the incorporation of (molecular) switches in the membrane. These switches may be biological (eg. ATPase) or synthetic (stimulus sensitive hydrogel) in nature. After the incorporation of a molecular switch into the polymersome membrane, their function upon external triggering will be studied using a broad range of complementary techniques in situ spectroscopic and force microscopic methods for (i) ensembles of cells, as well as (ii) individual cells and receptor molecules. Key to this is the immobilization of intact and functional cells and individual biomolecules on solid surfaces, which must be developed further.