Stimuli-Responsive Polymersomes - Intracellular Delivery: Fundamentals and Applications - page 325

We have discussed in this review all the most promising approaches to make
stimuli-responsive polymersomes, including non-biocompatible ones, for the proof
of concept and for the larger applications of polymersomes. Classical chemical
stimuli such as pH changes, hydrolysis, oxidation or reduction reaction, are used to
trigger a change in the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of the amphiphilic copo-
lymers, which in turn destabilises the vesicular structure either by forming leaking
pores or causing the vesicle to burst. Physical stimuli such as temperature, light,
magnetic field or ultrasonic wave are also of great potential interest, because they
don't require any chemical environmental change and can be applied remotely and/
or locally. Different mechanisms are involved in the destruction or deformation of
polymersomes under physical stimuli. We believe the use of the physical stimuli
will provide the impetus for the development of new stimuli-responsive polymer
vesicles.
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