Dynamically functionalized polymersomes via hydrazone exchange

Polymersomes composed of block copolymers of which the blocks are coupled via a hydrazone moiety are shown to exchange surface PEG chains with the environment via an aniline-catalyzed transimination under equilibrium conditions. This methodology is used to functionalize polymersomes with a different inner and outer moiety in a dynamic covalent way. Secondly, the exchange of surface properties is also demonstrated between differently functionalized polymersomes. These results, therefore, open new routes to the design of complex vesicular surfaces by dynamic exchange.