Thermosensitive Nanoparticles Self-Assembled from PCL-b-PEO-b-PNIPAAm Triblock Copolymers and their Potential for Controlled Drug Release

Thermosensitive nanoparticles with a core-shell structure were prepared by self-assembly of PCL-b-PEO-b-PNIPAAm triblock copolymers, which were synthesized by anionic ring-opening polymerization and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. At temperatures above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the collapse of PNIPAAm chains in the outer shell and in the core of nanoparticle caused a decrease in size, while the constantly hydrophilic PEO chains in the shell endowed nanoparticles with excellent stability in water. The release of doxorubicin from these nanoparticles showed that both the length of PNIPAAm chains and temperature have great influence on drug release, which indicates the great potential of thermosensitive nanoparticles as drug carriers.