Figure 1.

Anisotropic biodegradable biphasic polymer/lipid Janus nanoparticles. (a) Schematic of the formation process of PLGA/Precirol Janus particles: (1) Internal aqueous phase containing the hydrophilic drug is emulsified in the oil phase containing the hydrophobic drug and immiscible polymer/lipid species; (2) The primary W/O emulsion is emulsified in aqueous surfactant solution; (3) Solvent evaporation induces phase separation of the polymer and lipid, resulting in bicompartmental Janus particles. (b–d) Representative optical (b), scanning electron (c), and fluorescence (d) microscope images are shown. (b) Oil droplets in the later stages of DCM evaporation showing phase separation of PLGA-curcumin and Precirol-DOX during particle formation; (c) Polymer/lipid combinations yielded “ice cream cone” shaped particles. (d) Polymeric phase of nanoparticles was labeled with FITC (green fluorescence); and lipid phase was labeled with DiR (red fluorescence).