Micellization and sustained drug release behavior of EC-g-PPEGMA amphiphilic copolymers

Biodegradable amphiphilic block-graft copolymers based on methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-(polycarbonates-g-polycarbonates) for controlled release of doxorubicin

In this paper, novel biodegradable amphiphilic block-graft copolymers based on methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-(polycarbonates-g-polycarbonates) (mPEG-b-(PATMC-g-PATMC)) were synthesized successfully for controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX). Backbone block copolymer, methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(5-allyloxy-1,3-dioxan-2-one) (mPEG-b-PATMC) was synthesized in bulk catalyzed by immobilized porcine pancreas lipase (IPPL). Then, mPEG-b-PATMC-O, the allyl epoxidation product of mPEG-b-PATMC, was further grafted by PATMC itself also using IPPL as the catalyst. The copolymers were characterized by (1)N HMR and gel permeation chromatography results showed narrow molecular weight distributions. Stable micelle solutions could be prepared by dialysis method, while a monomodal and narrow size distribution could be obtained. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation showed the micelles dispersed in spherical shape with nano-size before and after DOX loading. Compared with the block copolymers, the grafted structure could enhance the interaction of polymer chains with drug molecules and improve the drug-loading capacity and entrapment efficiency. Furthermore, the amphiphilic block-graft copolymers mPEG-b-(PATMC-g-PATMC) had low cytotoxicity and more sustained drug release behavior.

Functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles with dendritic-linear-brush-like triblock copolymers and their drug release properties

Novel water-soluble dendritic-linear-brush-like triblock copolymer polyamidoamine-b-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (PAMAM-b-PDMAEMA-b-PPEGMA)-grafted superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were successfully prepared via a two-step copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method. The macroinitiators were immobilized on the surface of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles via effective ligand exchange of oleic acid with the propargyl focal point PAMAM-typed dendron (generation 2.0, denoted as propargyl-D(2.0)) containing four carboxyl acid end groups, following a click reaction with 2'-azidoethyl-2-bromoisobutylate (AEBIB). PDMAEMA and PPEGMA were grown gradually from nanoparticle surfaces using the "grafting from" approach, which rendered the SPIONs soluble in water and reversed aggregation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that describes the functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles with dendritic-linear-brush-like triblock copolymers. The modified nanoparticles were systematically studied via TEM, FT-IR, DLS, XRD, NMR, TGA, and magnetization measurements. DLS measurement confirmed that the obtained dendritic-linear-brush-like triblock copolymer-grafted SPIONs had a uniform hydrodynamic particle size of average diameter less than 30 nm. The dendritic-linear-brush-like triblock copolymer-grafted SPIONs possessed excellent biocompatibility by methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assays against NIH3T3 cells and hemolysis assays with rabbit erythrocytes. Furthermore, an anticancer drug, doxorubicin (Dox), was used as a model drug and loaded into the dendritic-linear-brush-like triblock copolymer-grafted SPIONs, and subsequently, the drug releases were performed in phosphoric acid buffer solution pH = 4.7, 7.4, or 11.0 at 37 °C. The results verify that the dendritic-linear-brush-like triblock copolymer-grafted SPIONs possess pH-responsive drug release behavior. The Dox dose of the loaded and free drug required for 50% cellular growth inhibition was 2.72 and 0.72 μm/mL, respectively, according to MTT assay against a Hella cell line in vitro. Therefore, on the basis of its biocompatibility and drug release effect, the modified SPION could provide a charming opportunity to design some excellent drug delivery systems for therapeutic applications.

Thermo-responsive cellulose-based architectures: tailoring LCST using poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylates

Preparation of biomedically interesting HPC-g-PEGMA comb architectures with tunable thermo-responsive behavior, and self-assembling properties.

Smart assembly behaviors of hydroxypropylcellulose-graft-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) copolymers in aqueous solution by thermo and pH stimuli

Thermo- and pH-sensitive graft copolymers, hydroxypropylcellulose-graft-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (HPC-g-P4VP), were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and characterized. The thermo- and pH-induced micellization and stimuli-responsive properties of HPC-g-P4VP graft copolymers in aqueous solution were investigated by transmittance, (1)H NMR, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and so on. For the pH-induced micellization, the P4VP side chains collapse to form the core of the micelles, and the HPC backbones stay in the shell to stabilize the micelles. In the case of thermoinduced micellization, the HPC backbones collapse to form the core of the micelles that was stabilized by the P4VP side chains in the shell upon heating. What's more, the cloud point of the HPC-g-P4VP copolymers in the aqueous solution could be finely tuned by changing the length of P4VP side chains or the pH values. In acidic water, the longer the side chains, the higher the cloud point. For those HPC-g-P4VP copolymers with short side chains, for example, HPC0.05-g-P4VP(3), the lower pH correlates a higher cloud point. The thermo- or pH-induced micelles also have the pH- or thermosensitivity due to their P4VP or HPC shells.