The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 15, 2007
Filed:
Jul. 01, 2004
Dennis E. Discher, Philadelphia, PA (US);
Bohdana M. Discher, Philadelphia, PA (US);
You-yeon Won, West Lafayette, IN (US);
James C-m Lee, Columbia, MO (US);
Daniel A. Hammer, Villanova, PA (US);
Frank Bates, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Dennis E. Discher, Philadelphia, PA (US);
Bohdana M. Discher, Philadelphia, PA (US);
You-Yeon Won, West Lafayette, IN (US);
James C-M Lee, Columbia, MO (US);
Daniel A. Hammer, Villanova, PA (US);
Frank Bates, Minneapolis, MN (US);
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (US);
Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides biocompatible vesicles comprising semi-permeable, thin-walled encapsulating membranes which are formed in an aqueous solution, and which comprise one or more synthetic super-amphiphilic molecules. When at least one super-amphiphile molecule is a block copolymer, the resulting synthetic vesicle is termed a 'polymersome.' The synthetic, reactive nature of the amphiphilic composition enables extensive, covalent cross-linking of the membrane, while maintaining semi-permeability. Cross-linking of the polymer building-block components provides mechanical control and long-term stability to the vesicle, thereby also providing a means of controlling the encapsulation or release of materials from the vesicle by modifying the composition of the membrane. Thus, the encapsulating membranes of the present invention are particularly suited for the reliable, durable and controlled transport, delivery and storage of materials.