Enzyme triggered disassembly of amphiphilic linear-dendritic block copolymer micelles based on poly[N-(2-hydroxyethyl-l-glutamine)]. Issue 1 (21st November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qian, Yangyang; You, Dan; Lin, Feng; Wei, Junwu; Wang, Yujia; Bi, Yunmei
• Is Part Of: Polymer chemistry. Volume 10:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 94
• Page End: 105
• Publication Date: 2018-11-21
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1039/c8py01231h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-9954

Abstract

Abstract : New amphiphilic linear-dendritic diblock copolymers based on poly[ N -(2-hydroxyethyl-l -glutamine)] have been synthesized, and their micellar assemblies can disassemble and release encapsulated molecular cargo upon enzymatic activation. Abstract : Well-defined enzyme-responsive amphiphilic linear-dendritic diblock copolymers G- b -PHEG and bis-MPA-G n - b -PHEG ( n = 1, 2) based on a hydrophilic linear block of poly(hydroxyethyll -glutamine) (PHEG) and a hydrophobic dendron derived from cysteamine or an aliphatic polyester of 2, 2′-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (bis-MPA) have been synthesized for the first time via a combination of the "dendron-first" strategy and the ring-opening polymerization of α-amino acid N -carboxyanhydrides (NCA). The obtained copolymers G- b -PHEG and bis-MPA-G n - b -PHEG ( n = 1, 2) were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transfrom-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. These amphiphilic copolymers are able to form nanospherical micelles or vesicles in aqueous solution as revealed by 1 H NMR analyses of the micelles in D2 O, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and particle size analysis. The self-assembled micelles show good enzyme-responsiveness, which can disassemble and release the encapsulated hydrophobic Nile red upon enzymatic activation. In vitro cytotoxicity studies indicate that the copolymers have good compatibility with SMMC-7721 cells. Such smart amphiphilic copolymers could potentially be applied for drug delivery systems and biosensors.