Amphiphilic star-like macromolecules as novel carriers for topical delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Polymeric micelles as cutaneous drug delivery system in normal skin and dermatological disorders

The easy accessibility of skin made dermal application, one of the approaches for local drug therapy. Effectiveness of topical drug application is depended on different parameters such as skin barrier properties, physicochemical properties of drug and vehicle, and interaction between drug and its vehicle with the skin layers. In this review, an overview of skin structure and feature of polymeric micelles as topical nanocarriers is provided. We also summarized the research studies dealing with the application of polymeric micelles for cutaneous delivery. In the past decades, numerous types of nanocarriers have been widely investigated as a novel delivery approach to improve skin penetration and localization of drugs in normal skin and dermatological diseases. Polymeric micelles are one of them, with their specific ability to encapsulate hydrophilic drugs. These carriers can enhance the therapeutic efficacy and minimize the systemic side effects of the drugs. Polymeric micelles could enhance the deposition of drugs in targeted sites of the skin in the normal and dermatological diseases such as psoriasis and acne. Nevertheless, still there is a need to investigate the mechanism of action of these carriers and the fate of polymeric micelles in skin.

Polymeric micelles for ocular drug delivery: From structural frameworks to recent preclinical studies

Effective intraocular drug delivery poses a major challenge due to the presence of various elimination mechanisms and physiological barriers that result in low ocular bioavailability after topical application. Over the past decades, polymeric micelles have emerged as one of the most promising drug delivery platforms for the management of ocular diseases affecting the anterior (dry eye syndrome) and posterior (age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma) segments of the eye. Promising preclinical efficacy results from both in-vitro and in-vivo animal studies have led to their steady progression through clinical trials. The mucoadhesive nature of these polymeric micelles results in enhanced contact with the ocular surface while their small size allows better tissue penetration. Most importantly, being highly water soluble, these polymeric micelles generate clear aqueous solutions which allows easy application in the form of eye drops without any vision interference. Enhanced stability, larger cargo capacity, non-toxicity, ease of surface modification and controlled drug release are additional advantages with polymeric micelles. Finally, simple and cost effective fabrication techniques render their industrial acceptance relatively high. This review summarizes structural frameworks, methods of preparation, physicochemical properties, patented inventions and recent advances of these micelles as effective carriers for ocular drug delivery highlighting their performance in preclinical studies.

Design, preparation and characterization of pH-responsive prodrug micelles with hydrolyzable anhydride linkages for controlled drug delivery

We report a new prodrug micelle-based approach in which a model hydrophobic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), ibuprofen (Ibu), is tethered to amphiphilic methoxy polyethylene glycol-polypropylene fumarate (mPEG-PPF) diblock copolymer via hydrolytic anhydride linkages for potential controlled release applications of NSAIDs. Synthesized mPEG-PPF-Ibu polymer drug conjugates (PDCs) demonstrated high drug conjugation efficiency (∼90%) and self-assembled to form micellar nanostructures in aqueous medium with critical micelle concentrations ranging between 16 and 30μg/mL. The entrapment efficiency of Ibu in prepared PDC micelles was as high as 18% (w/w). Crosslinking of prodrug micelles with N,N'-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate conferred pH-responsive characteristics. pH-responsive PDC micelles averaged 100nm in size at pH 7.4 and exhibited concomitant changes in size upon incubation in physiologically relevant mildly acidic conditions. Ibu release was observed to increase with increasing acidic conditions and could be controlled by varying the amount of crosslinker used. Furthermore, the prepared mPEG-PPF-based micelles demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility and cellular internalization in vitro. More importantly, PDC micelles exerted anti-inflammatory effects by significantly decreasing monosodium urate crystal-induced prostaglandin E2 levels in rabbit synoviocyte cultures in vitro. Cumulatively, our results indicate that this new prodrug micelle approach is promising for NSAID-based therapies in the treatment of arthritis and cancer.

Drug loading and release kinetics in polymeric micelles: Comparing dynamic versus unimolecular sugar-based micelles for controlled release

Amphiphilic macromolecules, possessing sugar-based hydrophobic and poly(ethylene glycol) hydrophilic domains, provide tunable structures that form effective polymeric micellar drug delivery systems. In this work, we compare traditional dynamic micelles and covalently bound unimolecular amphiphilic macromolecule micelles to study the effects of amphiphilic macromolecule hydrophobic domain branching, micelle architecture, and hydrodynamic volume of two drugs (triclosan and suloctidil) to elucidate the micellar structure–property relationships that govern drug loading and release kinetics. Overall, more hydrophobic micelles with either longer amphiphilic macromolecule alkyl side chains or a higher degree of hydrophobic domain branching exhibited increased triclosan loading compared to less hydrophobic micelles with smaller amphiphilic macromolecule hydrophobic domains. However, varying levels of micelle hydrophobicity did not significantly change suloctidil loading, where only minimal loading differences were seen between micelles with highly hydrophobic and less hydrophobic domains. In both dynamic and unimolecular micelles, the loading extent was primarily drug volume-dependent, where the smaller triclosan molecules demonstrated increased loading and sustained release compared to the larger suloctidil molecules. Unimolecular micelles followed a similar trend with generally higher loading capacities compared to dynamic micelles. Release characteristics for both amphiphilic macromolecule micelle types demonstrated little correlation to the amphiphilic macromolecule chemistry or micelle architecture and were instead primarily drug-dependent, with suloctidil- and triclosan-loaded micelles following the Korsmeyer–Peppas and Weibull models, respectively. The micelle structure–property relationships identified herein allow for improved drug–micelle compatibility to optimize drug delivery systems for poorly water-soluble drugs.

Smart branched polymer drug conjugates as nano-sized drug delivery systems

Branched polymers own special properties derived from their intrinsic characteristics. These properties make them ideal candidates to be used as carriers for an improved generation of polymer-drug conjugates.

Synthesis of NO–NSAID Dendritic Prodrugs via Passerini Reaction: New Approach to the Design of Dendrimer-drug Conjugates

We report the synthesis of a novel class of dendritic prodrugs via Passerini reaction in one pot. Such dendrimers feature a simultaneous attachment of a conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (such as ibuprofen and aspirin) and a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing moiety (such as an organic nitrate) onto their surface, and are therefore regarded as new drug delivery systems for NO-releasing NSAIDs (NO–NSAIDs).

Thermodynamic and physical interactions between novel polymeric surfactants and lipids: toward designing stable polymer-lipid complexes

Surfactant amphiphilic macromolecules (AMs) were complexed with a 1:1 ratio of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), either by a coevaporation (CE) or postaddition (PA) method, to form AM-lipid complexes with enhanced drug delivery applications. By characterizing the surfactant-lipid interactions, these heterogeneous drug delivery systems can be better controlled and engineered for optimal therapeutic outcomes. In this study, the physical interactions between DOPE:DOTAP liposomes and AM surfactants were investigated. Langmuir film balance and isothermal calorimetry studies showed cooperative intermolecular interactions between pure lipids and AM in monolayers and high thermostability of structure formed by the addition of AM micelles to DOTAP:DOPE vesicles in buffer solution respectively. Increasing the AM weight ratio in the complexes via the CE method led to complete vesicle solubilization--from lamellar aggregates, to a mixture of coexisting vesicles and micelles, to mixed micelles. Isothermal calorimetry evaluation of AM-lipid complexes shows that, at higher AM weight ratios, PA-produced complexes exhibit greater stability than complexes at lower AM weight ratios. Similar studies show that AM-lipid complexes produced by the CE methods display stronger interactions between AM-lipid components than complexes produced by the PA method. The results suggest that the PA method produces vesicles with AM molecules associated with its outer leaflet only (i.e., an AM-coated vesicle), while the CE method produces complexes ranging from mixed vesicles to mixed micelle in which the AM-lipid components are more intimately associated. These results will be helpful in the design of AM-lipid complexes as structurally defined, stable, and effective drug delivery systems.

Preferential cellular uptake of amphiphilic macromolecule-lipid complexes with enhanced stability and biocompatibility

Amphiphilic macromolecules (AM) were electrostatically complexed with a 1:1 ratio of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) to form AM-lipid complexes with drug delivery applications. The complexes exist as AM-coated liposomes and their drug delivery properties can be tuned by altering the AM-lipid weight ratio. The complexation and tuning are achieved in a simple, efficient, and scalable manner. The gradual increase in lipid ratios concurrently increased the zeta potential of the complexes, which directly correlates to increased cell uptake of the complexes in vitro with preferential uptake noted in BT-20 carcinoma cells versus normal fibroblasts. Increasing AM content increased complex steric stability in the presence of serum proteins and reduced the inherent cytotoxicity towards fibroblasts in vitro. AM-lipid complexes solubilized paclitaxel and showed drug-mediated, dose-dependent cytotoxicity towards target BT-20 cells in vitro. AM-lipid complexes make good candidates as drug delivery systems due to their tunable zeta potential, steric stability, inherently low cytotoxicity, and ability to load and deliver insoluble chemotherapeutic agents. Significantly, their preferential uptake in a carcinoma cell line over normal cells in vitro demonstrates a unique, passive targeting approach to delivery anti-cancer therapeutics.

Topical piroxicam in vitro release and in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects from palm oil esters-based nanocream

INTRODUCTION

During recent years, there has been growing interest in use of topical vehicle systems to assist in drug permeation through the skin. Drugs of interest are usually those that are problematic when given orally, such as piroxicam, a highly effective anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, and analgesic, but with the adverse effect of causing gastrointestinal ulcers. The present study investigated the in vitro and in vivo pharmacodynamic activity of a newly synthesized palm oil esters (POEs)-based nanocream containing piroxicam for topical delivery.

METHODS

A ratio of 25:37:38 of POEs: external phase: surfactants (Tween 80:Span 20, in a ratio 80:20), respectively was selected as the basic composition for the production of a nanocream with ideal properties. Various nanocreams were prepared using phosphate-buffered saline as the external phase at three different pH values. The abilities of these formulae to deliver piroxicam were assessed in vitro using a Franz diffusion cell fitted with a cellulose acetate membrane and full thickness rat skin. These formulae were also evaluated in vivo by comparing their anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities with those of the currently marketed gel.

RESULTS

After eight hours, nearly 100% of drug was transferred through the artificial membrane from the prepared formula F3 (phosphate-buffered saline at pH 7.4 as the external phase) and the marketed gel. The steady-state flux through rat skin of all formulae tested was higher than that of the marketed gel. Pharmacodynamically, nanocream formula F3 exhibited the highest anti- inflammatory and analgesic effects as compared with the other formulae.

CONCLUSION

The nanocream containing the newly synthesized POEs was successful for trans-dermal delivery of piroxicam.

Nanoparticulate strategies for effective delivery of poorly soluble therapeutics

The pharmacological activity of a drug molecule depends on its ability to dissolve and interact with its biological target, either through dissolution and absorption, or through dissolution and receptor interaction. The low bioavailability that characterizes poorly water-soluble drugs is usually attributed to the dissolution kinetic profile. Novel strategies to effectively deliver these drugs include nanoparticulate approaches that either increase the surface area of the drug or improve the solubility characteristics of the drug. Nanosizing approaches are based on the production of drug nanocrytals dispersed in an aqueous surfactant solution, whereas other possibilities include drug loading in nanoparticles. Promising nanoparticulate approaches include the development of lipid-based nanocarriers to increase drug solubility followed by enhanced bioavailability. To select the best approach there are, however, some critical considerations to take into account, for example the physicochemical properties of the drug, the possibility to scale-up the production process, the toxicological considerations of the use of solvents and cosolvents, the selection of an environmentally sustainable methodology and the development of a more patient-friendly dosage form. This article addresses these relevant questions and provides feasible examples of novel strategies with respect to relevant administration routes.

Design of Two Liquid Ibuprofen-Poloxamer-Limonene or Menthol Preparations for Dermal Administration

The purpose of our study was to prepare liquid forms of 20% ibuprofen in 30% poloxamer 407, while avoiding gel formation and to assess their drug diffusion-penetration (permeation) into the skin. Two series of poloxamer-based formulations were prepared, both containing ibuprofen and one of two terpenes: d-limonene and 1-menthol. A rheological characterization of all preparations made allowed their grouping in two modalities: gels and fluids. Data revealed a statistically superior enhanced permeation terpene-dependent of ibuprofen in fluid preparations, specially the one containing d-limonene. Cumulative permeation in 24 hr was 2500 micro g/cm(2) and 4500 micro g/cm(2) for the 1-menthol and d-limonene, respectively, for fluid preparations as compared with 2000 micro g/cm(2) and 1600 micro g/ cm(2) for d-limonene and 1-menthol on gels and only 1200 micro g/cm(2) of the control solution (p < 0.05). Results postulate that a liquid 30% poloxamer-based preparation of ibuprofen with d-limonene is possible and that it may be useful as a topical preparation of ibuprofen.

Hydroxyzine- and Cetirizine-Loaded Liposomes: Effect of Duration of Thin Film Hydration, Freeze-Thawing, and Changing Buffer pH on Encapsulation and Stability

PURPOSE

To assess the effect of the duration of film hydration, freeze-thawing, and changing buffer pH on the extent of entrapment of hydroxyzine and cetirizine, H1-antihistamines with different polarity, into liposomes, and the stability of these liposomes.

METHODS

Multilamellar vesicles (MLV) were prepared by thin-lipid film hydration using L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (PC) and buffer containing 80 mg hydroxyzine at pH 7. For MLV containing hydroxyzine, the liposomes were subjected to 1) hydration for 1 h, 24 h, or 48 h for the control batch, batch B, or batch D respectively; and 2) hydration for 1 h, 24 h, or 48 h with freeze-thawing for 5-cycles for batch A, batch C, or batch E, respectively. These formulations were stored at 10 +/- 2 degrees C and 37 +/- 0.1 degrees C. Small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) and MLV were prepared using L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (PC), and buffer at pH 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0, containing 80 mg hydroxyzine or 82 mg cetirizine by the ethanol injection and thin-lipid film hydration methods, respectively. These formulations were stored at 10 +/- 2 degrees C. Liposomes were evaluated immediately after preparation and after storage by determining percent entrapment of hydroxyzine (PETH) or of cetirizine (PEC) and by observing changes in the physical appearance (PA). Particle size (PSA) of the liposomes freshly prepared at pH=6.5 was measured from transmission electron micrographs (TEM).

RESULTS

Increasing thin-film hydration time or repeated freeze-thawing did not affect the initial PETH or long-term stability of control, A, B, C, D, and E batches of MLV containing hydroxyzine stored at 10 +/- 2 degrees C. At 37 +/- 0.1 degrees C, PETH of all MLV batches decreased considerably after 1 month. This was more evident in batches B, C, and E exposed to freeze-thawing. The PETH of SUV increased markedly from 53.0% to 84.0% when the pH of the buffer was increased from 5.0 to 5.5. As pH increased from 6.0 to 7.0, PETH continued to increase from 84% to 94%. The initial PETH of MLV increased slightly from 82.0% to 94.0% as the buffer pH values increased from 5.0 to 7.0. There was no effect of pH on initial PEC, and stability of SUV or initial PEC of MLV, which ranged from 92% to 94%, as buffer pH values increased from 5.0 to 6.5. After storage at 10 +/- 2 degrees C PEC in MLV decreased from 94% to 74%.

CONCLUSIONS

The freeze-thawing processes had some effect on the stability of liposomes stored at temperatures higher than ambient temperature, 37 +/- 0.1 degrees C. The effect of changing the buffer pH from 5.5 to 7.0, and from 5.0 to 6.5 on initial PETH and PEC, respectively, was minimal. After 24 months at l0 +/- 2 degrees C, pH had no effects on PETH; however, PEC of MLV decreased.

Micro/nanostructured polymeric systems for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications

This review provides an outline of the polymeric micro/nanostructured advanced systems that are suited for the controlled and targeted administration of, specifically, nonconventional drugs. The contribution of new trends in drug-delivery technology is focused on two major parts, dealing with brief surveys of: the biodegradable/bioerodible polymeric systems used in the formulation of micro/nanoparticles and techniques used in the preparation of micro/nanoparticles for their biomedical application in cancer treatment specifically, in inflammation pathologies, as oxygen carriers (blood substitutes) and in tissue-engineering practice. A small discussion of the future perspectives of the described systems is also given.

Poly(ethylene oxide) based copolymers: solubilisation capacity and gelation

It is thought that almost half of potentially useful drug candidates fail to progress to formulation development because of their low aqueous solubility and associated poor or erratic absorption characteristics. A response to this challenge has been the development of a variety of colloidal delivery systems in which the therapeutic agent is encapsulated in nanosized particles. In this review, attention is focussed on colloidal vectors based on amphiphilic block copolymers, the micelles of which can accommodate a wide range of water-insoluble guest molecules, and particularly on copolymers with poly(oxyethylene) as the hydrophilic block and with poly(oxyalkylene) or polyester hydrophobic blocks, taking advantage of the 'stealth' properties of the poly(oxyethylene) corona of their micelles. Although copolymers of this type have been commercially available for several decades in the form of the Pluronic (BASF) polyols, which have a poly(oxypropylene) hydrophobic block, they have not found wide application for drug solubilisation, primarily because of their low solubilisation capacity. In attempts to achieve greater drug loading, recent work has concentrated on copolymers in which the core-forming blocks are designed to be more hydrophobic and more compatible with the drug to be encapsulated. Progress in this area has been reviewed and recent developments in the design of block copolymers of this type that combine high drug loading capacity with thermally reversible gelation characteristics in the temperature range suitable for potential application as in situ gelling vehicles following subcutaneous injection have also been discussed.

Effect of preparation conditions on the nutrient release properties of alginate–whey protein granular microspheres

The effect of preparation conditions on nutrient release from alginate (AL)-whey protein isolate (WPI) granular microspheres obtained by an emulsification/internal cold gelation method was studied by varying WPI/AL ratio, microsphere diameter, total polymer concentration and riboflavin loading. Microsphere size distribution and nutrient encapsulation efficiency (EE) were examined. Riboflavin release profiles were investigated in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Values for EE above 80% were obtained for most microspheres, with the notable exceptions of high AL or pure AL. Variations in WPI/AL ratio, granule size and nutrient loading have major impact on nutrient release. Microspheres prepared with a WPI/AL ratio of 8:2, a riboflavin concentration of 1% in the initial aqueous phase and diameters near 94 microm retained the vitamin in SGF and released it in SIF. By careful process design, granular microspheres with potential as oral delivery vehicles for bioactive compounds may be developed.

Engineered polymeric nanoparticles for receptor-targeted blockage of oxidized low density lipoprotein uptake and atherogenesis in macrophages

Strategies to prevent the uptake of modified low density lipoproteins (LDLs) by immune cells, a major trigger of inflammation and atherogenesis, are challenged by complex interfacial factors governing LDL receptor-mediated uptake. We examine a new approach based on a family of "nanoblockers", which are designed to examine the role of size, charge presentation, and architecture on inhibition of highly oxidized LDL (hoxLDL) uptake in macrophages. The nanoblockers are macromolecules containing mucic acid, lauryl chloride, and poly(ethylene glycol) that self-assemble into 15-20 nm nanoparticles. We report that the micellar configuration of the macromolecules and the combined display of anionic (carboxylate) groups in the hydrophobic region of the nanoblockers caused the most effective inhibition in the uptake of hoxLDL by IC21 macrophages. The nanoblockers primarily targeted SR-A and CD36, the major scavenger receptors and modulated the "atherogenic" phenotype of cells in terms of the degree of cytokine secretion, accumulation of cholesterol, and "foam cell" formation. These studies highlight the promise of synthetically engineered nanoblockers against oxidized LDL uptake.

Enhanced in vitro percutaneous absorption and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of a selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor using microemulsion

Celecoxib, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, was recently approved for the treatment of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, acute pain, familial adenomatous polyposis and primary dysmenorrhea. Oral administration of celecoxib is effective against ultraviolet B radiation (UVB)-induced skin carcinogenesis; however, its clinical use is restricted because of its failure to block the characteristic cutaneous inflammatory response and lower availability at the site of inflammation. Topical application of celecoxib has been effective compared with oral in certain clinical conditions. The present study was undertaken to develop and investigate the development of microemulsion system (isopropyl myristate/medium-chain glyceride/polysorbate 80/water) for topical delivery of celecoxib. The pseudoternary phase diagram was constructed with constant surfactant concentration, and several compositions were identified and characterized by using dynamic light scattering. The in vitro permeation rate of celecoxib through rat skin was determined for microemulsions, microemulsion gel, and cream by using the modified Franz-type diffusion cell. In all formulations tested, celecoxib permeated more quickly, and the microemulsions increased the permeation rate of celecoxib up to 5 and 11 times compared with those of microemulsion gel and cream, respectively. Increasing the concentration of medium-chain mono-/di-glyceride in microemulsion imparted increased droplet size and viscosity and decreased diffusion coefficient. In vivo anti-inflammatory study suggested that the developed microemulsion formulations might serve as potential drug vehicle for the prevention of UVB-induced skin cancer.

Drug encapsulation using supercritical fluid extraction of emulsions

The current work was aimed at evaluating a new method, supercritical fluid extraction of emulsions (SFEE), for the production of composite (e.g., polymer-drug) micro- and nanoparticles, intended for application in sustained-release drug delivery formulations. Using the proposed method, composite particles were obtained, both in a continuous or batch manner by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions. Model drugs indomethacin and ketoprofen and biodegradable polymers poly(lactic/glycolic) acid and Eudragit RS were used in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the SFEE process for producing these particles. Stable aqueous suspensions of composite micro and nanoparticles, having sizes ranging between 0.1 and 2 microm were consistently obtained. Emulsion droplet diameter was found to be the major size control parameter. Other parameters investigated included polymer and drug concentrations in solvent and emulsion solvent fraction. The residual solvent content in the particle suspension obtained was consistently below 50 ppm. Standard dissolution tests were used to observe the sustained release phenomenon of the composite particles. The dissolution profile was characterized in terms of the intrinsic dissolution kinetic coefficients taking into account the specific surface area and solubility of the particles. It was observed that the kinetic coefficient parameter for encapsulated drugs was reduced by 2-4 orders of magnitude when compared to the unprocessed drug particles.

Polymer Architecture and Drug Delivery

Polymers occupy a major portion of materials used for controlled release formulations and drug-targeting systems because this class of materials presents seemingly endless diversity in topology and chemistry. This is a crucial advantage over other classes of materials to meet the ever-increasing requirements of new designs of drug delivery formulations. The polymer architecture (topology) describes the shape of a single polymer molecule. Every natural, seminatural, and synthetic polymer falls into one of categorized architectures: linear, graft, branched, cross-linked, block, star-shaped, and dendron/dendrimer topology. Although this topic spans a truly broad area in polymer science, this review introduces polymer architectures along with brief synthetic approaches for pharmaceutical scientists who are not familiar with polymer science, summarizes the characteristic properties of each architecture useful for drug delivery applications, and covers recent advances in drug delivery relevant to polymer architecture.

Tailoring the flow of soft glasses by soft additives

We examine the vitrification and melting of asymmetric star polymer mixtures by combining rheological measurements with mode coupling theory. We identify two types of glassy states, a single glass, in which the small component is fluid in the glassy matrix of the big one, and a double glass, in which both components are vitrified. Addition of small-star polymers leads to melting of both glasses, and the melting curve has a nonmonotonic dependence on the star-star size ratio. The phenomenon opens new ways for externally steering the rheological behavior of soft matter systems.

Polymeric micelles based on amphiphilic scorpion-like macromolecules: novel carriers for water-insoluble drugs

PURPOSE

The objective was to evaluate amphiphilic scorpion-like macromolecules (AScMs) as drug carriers for hydrophobic drugs.

METHODS

Indomethacin (IMC) was incorporated into two AScM micelles (M12P5 and M12P2) by the O/W emulsion technique. The influences of IMC:polymer feed ratio and molecular weight of the hydrophilic block of AScMs on the micelle size, IMC entrapment efficiency and release behavior were investigated. Furthermore, cytotoxicity of the AScMs was evaluated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

RESULTS

The maximal IMC entrapment efficiency in M12P5 and M12P2 micelles (72.3 and 20.2%, respectively) was obtained at ratios of 0.1 to 1 for indomethacin:polymer. The sizes of IMC-loaded M12P5 and Mi2P2 polymeric micelles were <20 nm with a narrow size distribution. In vitro release studies revealed that IMC released from MI2P5 and M12P2 polymeric micelles showed sustained release behavior during the 24 h of experiment. Additionally, M12P5 and M12P2 polymeric micelles did not induce remarkable cytotoxicity against HUVEC cells at concentrations up to 1 and 0.5 mM, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The amphiphilic scorpion-like macromolecules may be useful as novel drug carriers because of their small size, ability to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs and release them in a sustained manner as well as low cytotoxicity.