Facilitated self-assembly of novel dendron-based copolymers

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2011:2011:8334-6. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2011.6092055.

Abstract

Self-assembly of newly synthesized dendron-based amphiphilic copolymers with controlled hydrophilic-lipophilic balances has been investigated to evaluate their potential as a novel nanocarrier. The hydroxyl-terminated polyester dendron (G3) bearing a focal alkyne moiety was used to mediate the combination of poly(s-caprolactone) (PCL) with multiple polyethylene glycol (PEG) moieties. Four types of PCL-G3-mPEG with different block lengths were prepared and their structures were confirmed by (1)H NMR, FT-IR, and GPC. Critical micelle concentration (CMC) values varied from 6.50 × 10(-8) to 3.52 × 10(-7) M, which were lower than those reported for linear PCL-mPEG. TEM revealed that all PCL-G3-mPEG micelles were spherical with an average diameter of 20 nm. The drug release profile for each PCL-G3-mPEG was investigated by loading indomethacin (IMC), as a model drug, within the micelles. IMC was released in a controlled manner over 72 hours. Synthesized copolymers used in this study were also found to be non-cytotoxic at concentrations up to 100 μM. The low CMC, along with the controlled morphology, release profile and biocompatibility, all demonstrate the potential of the dendron-based micelles as a novel nanocarrier.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chemistry, Organic / methods*
  • Dendrimers / chemical synthesis*
  • Dendrimers / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Indomethacin / pharmacology
  • Micelles
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polyesters / chemical synthesis*
  • Polyesters / chemistry
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemical synthesis*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry

Substances

  • Dendrimers
  • Micelles
  • Polyesters
  • polycaprolactone
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • monomethoxypolyethylene glycol
  • Indomethacin