Polymer single crystal membranes from curved liquid/liquid interface

The weak mechanical properties of the current available vesicles such as liposomes, polymersomes, colloidosomes limit their applications for targeting delivery of drugs/genes. Recently, we developed an emulsion-crystallization method to grow polymer curved single crystals. Using polyethylene and poly(l-lactic acid)as the model systems, enclosed or partially open polymer single crystals have been obtained. Electron diffraction and XRD results confirmed their crystalline structure. The single crystal hollow sphere is structurally close to polymersomes, but with thinner wall and higher modulus.