Journal
POLYMER
Volume 52, Issue 13, Pages 2799-2809Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2011.04.054
Keywords
Star-block copolymers; Amphiphiles; Hydrophobic drug nanocarriers
Categories
Funding
- Research Council of Shahid Beheshti University
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Biodegradable star-shaped poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) with four arms were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) from a symmetric pentaerythritol core via the core-first strategy. Subsequently, two samples of the amphiphilic A(4)B(8) star-block copolymers with symmetrical topologies [4s(PCL-b-2sPEG)] were synthesized by a macromolecular coupling reaction between carboxyl-terminated poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and 4-arm star-shaped PCL macromers with eight -OH end groups. The latter was prepared by attaching 3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpropanoic acid (HHMPA) to 4sPCL using a simple two-step reaction sequence. The in vitro cytotoxicity test indicated no apparent cytotoxicity. The amphiphilic star-block copolymers are capable of self-assembling into spherical micelles in water at room temperature, and they possess low critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of 2 similar to 8 mg/L in aqueous solution which was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as a probe. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement demonstrated that the micelles exhibit a spherical shape with a size range of 30 similar to 50 nm in diameter. In addition, the hydrophobic and anticancer drug, quercetin, is loaded effectively in the polymeric micelles, suggesting that these new materials are appropriate candidates as hydrophobic drug nanocarriers. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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