Polymer particles that switch shape in response to a stimulus

Particle engineering for biomedical applications has unfolded the roles of attributes such as size, surface chemistry, and shape for modulating particle interactions with cells. Recently, dynamic manipulation of such key properties has gained attention in view of the need to precisely control particle interaction with cells. With increasing recognition of the pivotal role of particle shape in determining their biomedical applications, we report on polymeric particles that are able to switch their shape in real time in a stimulus-responsive manner. The shape-switching behavior was driven by a subtle balance between polymer viscosity and interfacial tension. The balance between the two forces was modulated by application of an external stimulus chosen from temperature, pH, or chemical additives. The dynamics of shape switch was precisely controlled over minutes to days under physiological conditions. Shape-switching particles exhibited unique interactions with cells. Elliptical disk-shaped particles that are not phagocytosed by macrophages were made to internalize through shape switch, demonstrating the ability of shape-switchable particles in modulating interaction with cells.