ENCAPSULATION OF POLYMERIC NANOSPHERES INTO CUBOSSOMES

The protein corona is a layer of proteins that spontaneously adsorb onto nanoparticles when exposed to several biological fluids. This passivation caused by proteins is a severe drawback, particularly for inorganic nanozymes, because they need a free surface to catalyze biologically relevant reactions in the body. (1) Considering this, we proposed an innovative nanosystem (2) to potentially protect the nanozyme surface from the action of the protein corona. We investigated the physicochemical aspects of cubosome and polymeric nanosphere formation by solvent displacement. Then, we successfully obtained a polymeric nanosphere encapsulated into phytantriol-based cubosomes, as observed by cryo-TEM. We used a polyanion that attaches to cations as a polymer to get the nanosphere. The in situ reduction of the cations attached to the nanosphere generates entrapped ultra-small nanoparticles. Consequently, the aqueous channels of the cubosome make a free path for the substrates to the nanozyme surface, remaining potentially available to catalyze the reaction without considerable interference from the protein corona.
Keywords: cubosomes, polymeric nanospheres, nanozymes, solvent displacement.
Acknowledgement: LNNANO – CNPEM (São Paulo – BR), CMM – UFRGS and CNANO – UFRGS (Porto Alegre – BR).

1. Zhang, X. et al. Intracellular activation of bioorthogonal nanozymes through endosomal proteolysis of the protein corona. ACS Nano 2020, 14 (4), 4767–4773.
2. Poletto, F.; Kobelinski, D.R.B.; Zimmermann, G.W.; Eberhardt, M. J.; Bernardi, F. Cubossoma, seu processo de obtenção e seus usos 2020. Número do registro: BR1020200082540, Instituição de registro: INPI - Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial.