Nanocompartments

Nanocompartments are nanoscale vesicles or hollow containers that enclose an internal cavity, enabling confinement and protection of molecular cargo. Their shells can be made from polymers, lipids, inorganic materials such as silica or carbon, or composite hybrids. The interior space, often called the lumen, can hold drugs, catalysts, enzymes, or signaling molecules, while the shell provides structural integrity and selective permeability. Nanocompartments are designed to control loading, protect contents from degradation, and achieve controlled release with external triggers or environmental cues. They are typically in the range of 10 to 200 nanometers, suitable for cellular uptake and circulation in biological contexts, although larger variants exist for non-biomedical applications.

Fabrication strategies include templating and core removal to produce hollow shells, self-assembly of block copolymers into vesicles (polymersomes), layer-by-layer deposition, and etching or dissolution of a sacrificial core. Common materials include hollow silica particles, polymeric capsules from PLGA or poly(ethylene glycol)-based polymers, lipid-based liposomes and supported lipid bilayers, and carbon or metal oxide-based hollow nanoparticles. Shell properties such as thickness, porosity, and surface functionality can be tuned to modulate cargo loading, release kinetics, and targeting capabilities. Surface modification enables attachment of ligands for receptor-mediated uptake or stealth coatings to reduce immune clearance.

Applications span drug delivery, where nanocompartments protect and release therapeutics at target sites; catalysis, where confined spaces influence reaction rates and selectivity; imaging and diagnostics, with encapsulated contrast agents; and sensing or environmental remediation. Challenges include ensuring biocompatibility and safety, achieving precise control over loading and release, avoiding rapid clearance or immune recognition, and scaling up production with consistent quality. Research continues to optimize multifunctionality, targeting, and stimulus-responsive behavior of nanocompartments.