PH-Sensitive betulinic acid polymer prodrug nanoparticles for efficient and targeted cancer cells treatment. Issue 10 (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Huaihong; Zhou, Tao; Yu, Qing; Yang, Zhenqing; Sun, Yu; Cai, Zhaosheng; Cang, Hui
• Is Part Of: International journal of polymeric materials. Volume 69:Issue 10(2020)
• Page Start: 659
• Page End: 668
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: pH-sensitive -- prodrug nanoparticles -- betulinic acid; Polymers -- Periodicals; Plastics -- Periodicals; 620.19205
• DOI: 10.1080/00914037.2019.1596916
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-4037

Abstract

Abstract: pH-sensitive betulinic acid (BA) polymer prodrug nanoparticles, have been proposed. The carboxyl group-terminated poly[2-(3-butenyl)-2-oxazoline] (PBuOx-COOH) is prepared by cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) of the 2-(3-butenyl)-2-oxazoline (BuOx) using ethyl 3-bromopropionate as initiator followed by hydrolysis with methanolic KOH. Folic acid (FA) was connected with the PBuOx-COOH through polyethylene glycol (PEG) as spacer forming the FA-PEG-PBuOx. Thiol-modified betulinic acid (BA-SH) is conjugated to the side chains of FA-PEG-PBuOx by thio-ene reaction endowed the FA-PEG-PBuOx/BA with the acid-liable β-thiopropionate linkages. Additionally, the cellular uptake of the prodrug nanoparticles also showed vital potential for folate-receptor-positive HeLa cells. Graphical Abstract: