Benzaldehyde-Functionalized Polymer Vesicles

Abstract

Polymer vesicles with diameters of ca. 100-600 nm and bearing benzaldehyde functionalities within the vesicular walls were constructed through self-assembly of an amphiphilic block copolymer PEO(45)-b-PVBA(26) in water. The reactivity of the benzaldehyde functionalities was verified by cross-linking the polymersomes and also by a one-pot cross-linking and functionalization approach to further render the vesicles fluorescent, each via reductive amination. In vitro studies found these labeled nanostructures to undergo cell association.