Stomatocyte in Stomatocyte: A New Shape of Polymersome Induced via Chemical-Addition Methodology

Accurate control of the shape transformation of polymersome is an important and interesting challenge that spans across disciplines such as nanomedicine and nanomachine. Here, we report a fast and facile methodology of shape manipulation of polymersome via out-of-equilibrium polymer self-assembly and shape change by chemical addition of additives. Due to its increased permeability, hydrophilicity, and fusogenic properties, poly­(ethylene oxide) was selected as the additive for bringing the system out of equilibrium via fast addition into the polymersome organic solution. A new shape, stomatocyte-in-stomatocyte (sto-in-sto), is obtained for the first time. Moreover, fast shape transformation within less than 1 min to other relevant shapes such as stomatocyte and large compound vesicles was also obtained and accurately controlled in a uniform dispersion. This methodology is demonstrated as a general strategy with which to push the assembly further out of equilibrium to generate unusual nanostructures in a controllable and fast manner