Polymersomes: Fundamentals and Shape Transformation Methods

In this chapter, we introduce readers to a class of self-assembled structure known as polymersomes. A characteristic feature of a polymersome that distinguishes it from other polymer morphologies is its hollow vesicular structure. Typically, polymersomes possess an aqueous core, which is enclosed within a spherical bilayer membrane composed of two opposing block copolymer leaflets. This characteristic feature endows polymersomes with the ability to encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules. For this reason, polymersomes are routinely used as nano- or microscale containers for drug delivery, synthetic biology, and nanoreactor applications. For ease of reading, we divide this chapter into two main sections. The first outlines the fundamentals of polymersome formation, their self-assembly mechanisms, and preparation methods. The second discusses concepts and approaches to transform polymersomes, which are conventionally spherical in shape, into various nonspherical forms.