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A class of pH-sensitive polymer vesicles is prepared by self-assembly of a biocompatible diblock copolymer in purely aqueous solution simply by controlling the solution pH. These vesicles are authentic polymeric analogues of conventional surface-based liposomes.

The article focuses on the preparation of PMPC-b-PDPA, pH sensitive polymer vesicles, by self-assembly of a biocompatible zwitterionic diblock copolymer. The PMPC-b-PDPA vesicles can be prepared directly in purely aqueous solution without any cosolvents and are colloidally stable at physiological pH. The PMPC-b-PDPA diblock precursors can be easily synthesized from commercially available monomers in high yields using atom transfer radical polymerization in methanol at room temperature without requiring protecting group chemistry. These vesicles are authentic polymeric analogues of conventional surfactant-based liposomes.