MICROFLUIDIC PRODUCTION OF BIOFUNCTIONALIZED GIANT UNILAMELLAR VESICLES FOR TARGETED CARGO DELIVERY

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for preparation of monodisperse cell- targeting giant unilamellar vesicles based on symmetrically division of a parent polymer shell-stabilized giant unilamellar vesicle into smaller polymer shell- stabilized giant unilamellar vesicles with a diameter between 1 µm and 10 µm using a microfluidic splitting device. The inventive method allows preparation of differently charged giant unilamellar vesicles as well as bioligand- and PEG-conjugated giant unilamellar vesicles, which are useful for targeted cellular delivery at high efficiency and specificity. A further advantage of the present invention is that the giant unilamellar vesicles can deliver huge cargos such as drug releasing porous microparticles, high amounts of in vivo imaging probes, viruses, or up-and-coming DNA origami robots.