A branched polymer as a pH responsive nanocarrier: Synthesis, characterization and targeted delivery. (20th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Panja, S.; Maji, S.; Maiti, T.K.; Chattopadhyay, S.
• Is Part Of: Polymer. Volume 61(2015)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2015-03-20
• Subjects: Polymeric micelle -- Branch polymer -- Drug delivery; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2015.01.075
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3861

Abstract

Abstract: A series of branched and folic acid (FA) conjugated amphiphilic block copolymers were synthesized by sequential steps of ring opening and atom transfer radical polymerizations. The chemical structure of the FA conjugated block copolymer was established by spectroscopic method. The FA conjugated copolymers give rise to nearly spherical polymeric micelles (PMs) in water (40–60 nm). The polymers are showing low range of CMC (0.63 × 10 −2 to 2.01 × 10 −2 mg/mL) with a negative zeta potential (−44.4 mV). The branched structure supports a very high loading (∼25%) of DOX molecules compare to the literature reported nanocarriers prepared from analogous linear block copolymers. The cell viability and cell uptake study of PMs were conducted on both normal and cancerous cell lines. The pH sensitive decrease of miceller size affords sparkling in vitro release of DOX molecule (67–88%) at physiological pH (5.0) of the cancer cells. Graphical abstract: Highlights: We have synthesized a pH responsive four armed branched block copolymer. The biodegradable micelle carries the DOX molecule. The branched structure supports a very high loading (∼25%) of DOX. The micelle shows cancer cell specific pH responsive DOX delivery. Micelles selectively enter into the cancer cell.