Biomimetic liposome- and polymersome-based multicompartmentalized assemblies

Liposomes and polymersomes have attracted significant attention and have emerged as versatile materials for therapeutic delivery and in the design of artificial cells and organelles. Through the judicious choice of building blocks, these synthetic carriers can be readily engineered with tailored interfacial properties, offering new possibilities for the design of advanced assemblies with specific permeability, stability, stimuli response, and targeting capabilities. In this feature article, we highlight recent studies on biomimetic liposome- and polymersome-based multicompartmentalized assemblies en route toward the development of artificial cells, microreactors, and therapeutic delivery carriers. The strategies employed to produce these carriers are outlined, and the properties that contribute to their performance are discussed. Applications of these biomimetic assemblies are highlighted, and finally, areas that require additional investigation for the future development of these assemblies as next-generation therapeutic systems are outlined. © 2012 American Chemical Society.