Sustained delivery of doxorubicin from thermogelling poly(PEG/PPG/PTMC urethane)s for effective eradication of cancer cells

A series of multiblock poly(ether carbonate urethane)s comprising poly(trimethylene carbonate), poly(ethylene glycol), and poly(propylene glycol) segments, with a molecular weight of 60 000 g mol(-1), were synthesized. Thermogelling behaviors of the aqueous copolymer solutions were observed at gelation concentrations as low as 2 wt%. Rheological characterizations on the thermogel were carried out as a function of temperature and strain. The gels showed good recovery characteristics after being subjected to high strain. A sustained and complete doxorubicin release over 50 days can be achieved with this system. The rate of release can be tuned by changing the gel concentration or by using a copolymer with a different composition. The doxorubicin-loaded gels were effective in controlling the growth of HeLa cells when compared with doxorubicin dissolved in solution. The results demonstrated that the copolymers could be potentially used in chemotherapeutic applications.