Polymersome encapsulation of hydrophobic fluorescent polymers

1. An aqueous soluble polymersome comprising:

(a) one or more hydrophobic fluorescent polymers; and

(b) a plurality of amphiphilic diblock copolymers encapsulating the one or more hydrophobic fluorescent polymers, the copolymers each comprising a hydrophobic block that forms a hydrophobic core structure and a hydrophilic block on the surface of the polymersome that is oriented toward an aqueous phase;

wherein the hydrophobic block is selected from poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polvlactide (PLA), polyglycolide (PGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(methyl methacylate) (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS); and

the hydrophilic block is selected from a hydrophilic polysaccharide, a polyether, polymethacrylate, poly(methacrylic acid), polyacrylic acid, polyacrylate, poly(alkylacrylic acid), poly(alkylacrylate), polyacrylamide, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl acid), poly(2-methyloxazoline) and copolymer combinations thereof.

2. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic block is selected from poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polylactide (PLA), polyglycolide (PGA), and polycaprolactone (PCL).

3. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic block is poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA).

4. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 3 , wherein the polymer ratio of PLGA is 50:50 (DL-lactide:glycolide).

5. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic block has a number average molecular weight of about 2,000 to 20,000 Daltons.

6. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic block is selected from a hydrophilic polysaccharide and a polyoxyalkylene.

7. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic block is polypropylene glycol (PPG), dextrin, amylopectin or polyethylene glycol (PEG).

8. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic block is poly(2-methyloxazoline).

9. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic block has a number average molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 10,000 Daltons.

10. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic block further comprises an amine moiety.

11. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic block is attached to a biosensor molecule.

12. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic block is attached to a signaling chromophore for resonant energy transfer.

13. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic block is attached to an antigen-specific antibody.

14. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic block is PLGA and the hydrophilic block is PEG.

15. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 14 , wherein the PLGA has a number average molecular weight of about 5,000 Daltons and the PEG has a number average molecular weight of about 2,000 Daltons.

16. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hydrophobic fluorescent polymers are polyfluorene polymer, polyfluorene copolymer, or fluorescent homopolymer.

17. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hydrophobic fluorescent polymers are selected from poly[(9,9-dioctyl-2,7-divinylenefluorenylene)-alt-co-(9,10-anthracene)]; poly[(9,9-dioctyl-2,7-divinylenefluorenylene)-alt-co-{2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene}]; poly[(9,9-dioctyl-2,7-divinylenefluorenylene)-alt-co-(1,4-phenylene)]; poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(1,4-benzo-{2,1′,3}-thiadiazole)]; poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-co-(2-methoxy-5-{2-ethylhexyloxy}-1,4-phenylene)]; poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(2,5-p-xylene)]; poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(N,N′-diphenyl)-N,N′-di(p-butylphenyl)-1,4-diamino-benzene)]; poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4-benzo-{2,1′,3}-thiadiazole)]; poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene], optionally end capped with dimethylphenyl; poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene], optionally end capped with polysilsesquioxane; poly[2-methoxy-5-(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene], optionally end capped with dimethylphenyl; poly[2-methoxy-5-(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene], optionally end capped with polysilsesquioxane; poly[9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl], optionally end capped with dimethylphenyl; poly[9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl], optionally end capped with polysilsesquioxane; poly[9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl], optionally end capped with N,N-bis(4-methylphenyl)-aniline; poly[9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl], optionally end capped with 2,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole; poly[9,9-di-(2-ethylhexyl)-fluorenyl-2,7-diyl], optionally end capped with dimethylphenyl; poly[9,9-di-(2-ethylhexyl)-fluorenyl-2,7-diyl], optionally end capped with polysilsesquioxane; poly[9,9-di-(2-ethylhexyl)-fluorenyl-2,7-diyl], optionally end capped with N,N-bis(4-methylphenyl)-aniline; poly[9,9-di-(2-ethylhexyl)-fluorenyl-2,7-diyl], optionally end capped with 2,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole; poly[2-(5-cyano-5-methylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene], optionally end capped with dimethylphenyl; and poly[2,5-dioctyl-1,4-phenylene], optionally end capped with dimethylphenyl; poly[9,9-di(3,3′-N,N′-trimethyl-ammonium)propylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl]-alt-(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)] diiodide salt, optionally end capped with dimethylphenyl; poly[2,5-bis(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene]; poly(9,9-di{2-[2-(2-methoxy-ethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl}fluorenyl-2,7-diyl), optionally end capped with dimethylphenyl; and poly-BODIPY fluorescent polymers.

18. The aqueous soluble polymersome of claim 1 , wherein the polymersome comprises at least two hydrophobic fluorescent polymers.

19. An aqueous soluble polymersome comprising:

(a) one or more hydrophobic fluorescent polymers;

(b) a plurality of amphiphilic diblock copolymers encapsulating the one or more hydrophobic fluorescent polymers, the copolymers each comprising a hydrophobic block that forms a hydrophobic core structure and a hydrophilic block on the surface of the polymersome that is oriented toward an aqueous phase, wherein:

the hydrophobic block is selected from poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polvlactide (PLA), polyglycolide (PGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(methyl methacylate) (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS); and

the hydrophilic block is selected from a hydrophilic polysaccharide, a polyether, polymethacrylate, poly(methacrylic acid), polyacrylic acid, polyacrylate, poly(alkylacrylic acid), poly(alkylacrylate), polyacrylamide, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl acid), poly(2-methyloxazoline) and copolymer combinations thereof; and

(c) an acceptor dye.

20. The polymersome of claim 19 , wherein:

the hydrophobic block is selected from poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polvlactide (PLA), polyglycolide (PGA) and polycaprolactone (PCL); and

the hydrophilic block is selected from polypropylene glycol (PPG), dextrin, amylopectin and polyethylene glycol (PEG).

21. An aqueous soluble polymersome comprising:

(a) one or more hydrophobic fluorescent polymers;

(b) a plurality of amphiphilic diblock copolymers encapsulating the one or more hydrophobic fluorescent polymers, the copolymers each comprising a hydrophobic block that forms a hydrophobic core structure and a hydrophilic block on the surface of the polymersome that is oriented toward an aqueous phase, wherein the hydrophobic block is selected from poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polvlactide (PLA), polyglycolide (PGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(methyl methacylate) (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS); and the hydrophilic block is selected from a hydrophilic polysaccharide, a polyether, polymethacrylate, poly(methacrylic acid), polyacrylic acid, polyacrylate, poly(alkylacrylic acid), poly(alkylacrylate), polyacrylamide, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl acid), poly(2-methyloxazoline) and copolymer combinations thereof;

(c) an acceptor dye; and

(d) one or more antioxidants.

22. The polymersome of claim 21 , wherein:

the hydrophobic block is selected from poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polvlactide (PLA), polyglycolide (PGA) and polycaprolactone (PCL); and

the hydrophilic block is selected from polypropylene glycol (PPG), dextrin, amylopectin and polyethylene glycol (PEG).

23. The polymersome of claim 19 , wherein the hydrophobic block is PLGA and the hydrophilic block is PEG.

24. The polymersome of claim 21 , wherein the hydrophobic block is PLGA and the hydrophilic block is PEG.