ESR 8 - Functional artificial cells from compartmentalized polymersomes

Clémenece is aiming to develop functional artificial cells from compartmentalized polymersomes. Polymersomes are vesicles formed by the self-assembly of amphiphilic copolymers. Eventually, hybrid systems resulting from the co-assembly of polymers and lipids can also be designed. These structures are developed as drug delivery systems, sensors and nanoreactors, as they are capable of encapsulating molecules such as drugs, enzymes or peptides, and protect the encapsulated material from any external medium. 

A microfluidic system will be used to enable the preparation of (multi)compartmentalized cell-like structures and ensure a high level of control as well as reproducibility. To reach the desired target and selectively interact with living cells, surface-active polymersomes will be designed in the first place. Then, once reaching their target, the vesicles should be able to release their content upon the activation of an on-demand pore, mimicking a natural cell. Our approach aims to combine molecular machines and block copolymer self-assembly, at the forefront of supramolecular chemistry and macromolecular engineering.