Polymeric Nanoarchitectures: Advanced Cargo Systems for Biological Applications.

Polymeric nanoarchitectures are crafted from amphiphilic block copolymers through a meticulous self-assembly process. The composition of these block copolymers is finely adjustable, bestowing precise control over the characteristics and properties of the resultant polymeric assemblies. These nanoparticles have garnered significant attention, particularly in the realm of biological sciences, owing to their biocompatibility, favorable pharmacokinetics, and facile chemically modifiable nature.

Flexible Morphological Regulation of Photothermal Nanodrugs: Understanding the Relationship between the Structure, Photothermal Effect, and Tumoral Biodistribution.

The morphology of nanodrugs is of utmost importance in photothermal therapy because it directly influences their physicochemical behavior and biological responses. However, clarifying the inherent relationship between morphology and the resultant properties remains challenging, mainly due to the limitations in the flexible morphological regulation of nanodrugs. Herein, we created a range of morphologically controlled nanoassemblies based on poly(ethylene glycol)--poly(d,l-lactide) (PEG-PLA) block copolymer building blocks, in which the model photosensitizer phthalocyanine was incorporated.

Cytoskeleton-functionalized synthetic cells with life-like mechanical features and regulated membrane dynamicity.

The cytoskeleton is a crucial determinant of mammalian cell structure and function, providing mechanical resilience, supporting the cell membrane and orchestrating essential processes such as cell division and motility. Because of its fundamental role in living cells, developing a reconstituted or artificial cytoskeleton is of major interest. Here we present an approach to construct an artificial cytoskeleton that imparts mechanical support and regulates membrane dynamics.

Understanding, Mimicking, and Mitigating Radiolytic Damage to Polymers in Liquid Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Advances in liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (LP-TEM) have enabled the monitoring of polymer dynamics in solution at the nanoscale, but radiolytic damage during LP-TEM imaging limits its routine use in polymer science. This study focuses on understanding, mimicking, and mitigating radiolytic damage observed in functional polymers in LP-TEM. It is quantitatively demonstrated how polymer damage occurs across all conceivable (LP-)TEM environments, and the key characteristics and differences between polymer degradation in water vapor and liquid water are elucidated.