fig4

From: Stomatocytes as multifunctional therapeutic vehicles: opportunities and challenges for next generation nanomedicine

Figure 4. Schematic illustration of GSH-responsive and thermo-responsive stomatocytes. GSH-responsive stomatocytes were prepared by introducing disulfide bonds into PEG-PDLLA copolymers, followed by methotrexate (MTX) loading into the hydrophilic domain and in situ growth of MnO₂ nanoparticles within the stomatocyte cavity. Thermo-responsive stomatocytes were obtained by co-assembling PEtO_x-b-PDLLA and PiPrO_x-b-PDLLA block copolymers (4:1, w/w) via a solvent-switch method, followed by dialysis. Upon increasing temperature, the stomatocyte opening progressively narrowed and eventually underwent irreversible closure. GSH: Glutathione; PEtOx-b-PDLLA: poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-block-poly(D,L-lactide); PiPrOx-b-PDLLA: poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline)-block-poly(D,L-lactide); PEG-PDLLA: poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactide).