Biodegradable Polymersomes with Structure Inherent Fluorescence and Targeting Capacity for Enhanced Photo?Dynamic Therapy

Biodegradable nanostructures displaying aggregation-induced emission (AIE) are desirable from a biomedical point of view, due to the advantageous features loading capacity, brightness, and fluorescence stability. Herein, biodegradable polymers comprising poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly(caprolactone-gradient-trimethylene carbonate) (PEG-P(CLgTMC)), with tetraphenylethylene pyridinium-TMC (PAIE) side chains have been developed, which self-assembled into well-defined polymersomes. The resultant AIEgenic polymersomes intrinsically fluorescent delivery vehicles. presence pyridinium moiety endows mitochondrial targeting ability, improves efficiency co-encapsulated photosensitizers therapeutic index against cancer cells both in vitro vivo. This contribution showcases ability engineer structure inherent capacity for enhanced photodynamic therapy.