Challenges and future directions for next-generation biomedical polymersomes

As a major transport system in cells, naturally occurring vesicles play an important role to ensure that the right cargo is shipped to the right destination at the right time. Similarly, artificial vesicles, such as polymersomes with similar structures and functions, have been developed for various biological applications due to the advantages of polymersomes such as excellent membrane and colloidal stability, high loading efficiency of hydrophobic drugs, low membrane permeability, high functional modifiability, and long circulation time. However, relatively complicated synthesis and preparation methods, unpredictable biocompatibility and limited functions and delivery routes, have largely hindered the clinic translation of polymersomes. In this review, we propose five key scientific questions for next-generation polymersomes, in the aspects of synthesis of building blocks, self-assembly techniques, and potential biomedical applications, to emphasize on the future challenges and directions, such as simplifying the design and synthetic process, streamlining and standardizing the self-assembly procedure, and broadening the horizon of potential applications.