Encapsulation and controlled release of a hydrophobic drug using a novel nanoparticle-forming hyperbranched polyester

An amphiphilic, hyperbranched polymer suitable for use in controlled drug delivery is reported. This polymer was obtained by modification of the hyperbranched aliphatic polyester Boltorn (TM) H20 (H20) with succinic anhydride and then glycidyl methacrylate, and formed nanoparticles in aqueous solution. The critical association concentration was 7.4 x 10(-3) g - L-1, as determined by fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as a molecular probe. A static/dynamic laser light scattering (LLS) study revealed that the average particle size was 39.4 mu with a low particle size distribution (PDI = 0.04), and that each particle was composed of about 350 amphiphilic molecules. Daidzein, a hydrophobic traditional Chinese medicine, was encapsulated during particle formation and the release properties were determined. The optimal feeding concentration of daidzein to hyperbranched polyester was 4.9 x 10(-5) g . mL(-1) to 5.0 x 10(-3) g . mL(-1) with a loading efficiency of 76.1%. In the presence of the enzyme Lipase PS, the drug loaded nanoparticles degraded in a random one-by-one manner and released the drug over a few days. This system is therefore a novel controlled drug Z, release system based on nanoparticles formed of hyperbranched polyester.