Polymersomes as a potential tool in nuclear medicine

Polymersomes as a potential tool in nuclear medicine

Wang, G.

Wolterbeek, H.Th. (promotor)
Denkova, A. (promotor)
Mendes, E. (promotor)

Applied Sciences

Radiation, Radionuclides & Reactors

2014-07-02

Amphiphilic di-block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene oxide-b-butadiene), abbreviated PEO-PB can self-assemble into polymer vesicles (polymersomes) when placed in aqueous solution, provided that the ratio of hydrophilic block to the total molecular mass is between 25 % and 45 %. These vesicles consist of an aqueous cavity surrounded by a double-layered hydrophobic membrane constituted of poly-butadiene and it remains soluble due to the hydrophilic PEO brush that coats the inner and outer surface of the assembly. The major goal of this thesis is to design polymersomes for nuclear medical applications, in particular for alpha radionuclide therapy and to investigate their properties as potential nano-carriers. In this thesis, the first steps towards the application of polymersomes in nuclear medicine have been taken. The results clearly show the great potential of these carriers, i.e., high loading efficiency and no loss, but they also reveal that the pharmacokinetics of the polymersomes need to be improved and that different nano-vesicle design will be needed to increase recoil retention.

polymersomes
recoil retention
In vivo
Cross-linking
radiolabeling

https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:85664bfc-6ceb-4136-b0cf-9ddff0e070c7

2015-07-02

9789462036093

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

(c) 2014 Wang, G.