Stereocomplex Prodrugs of Oligo(lactic acid)(n)-Gemcitabine in Polyethylene glycol)biock-poly(D,L-lactic acid) Micelles for Improved Physical Stability and Enhanced Antitumor Efficacy

Herein we demonstrate the formation of stereocomplex prodrugs of oligo(l-lactic acid)n-gemcitabine (o(LLA)(n)-GEM) and oligo(d-lactic acid)n-gemcitabine (o(DLA)(n)-GEM) for stable incorporation in poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(d,l-lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA) micelles. O(LLA)(n) or o(DLA)(n) was attached at the amino group (4-(N)) of GEM via an amide linkage. When n = 10, a 1:1 mixture of o(LLA)10-GEM and o(DLA)10-GEM (o(L+DLA)10-GEM) was able to form a stereocomplex with a distinctive crystalline pattern. Degradation of o(L+DLA)10-GEM was driven by both backbiting conversion and esterase contribution, generating primarily o(L+DLA)1-GEM and GEM. O(L+DLA)10-GEM stably loaded in PEG-b-PLA micelles in the size range of 140200 nm with an unexpected elongated morphology. The resulting micelles showed improved physical stability in aqueous media and inhibited backbiting conversion of o(L+DLA)10-GEM within micelles. Release of o(L+DLA)10-GEM from micelles was relatively slow, with a t1/2 at ca. 60 h. Furthermore, weekly administration of o(L+DLA)10-GEM micelles i.v. displayed potent antitumor activity in an A549 human non-small-cell lung carcinoma xenograft model. Thus, stereocomplexation of isotactic o(LLA)(n) and o(DLA)(n) acts as a potential prodrug strategy for improved stability and sustained drug release in PEG-b-PLA micelles.