Amphiphilic block copolymers bearing ortho ester side-chains: pH-dependent hydrolysis and self-assembly in water
作者:tang rp, et al
關(guān)鍵字:self-assembly
論文來(lái)源:期刊
具體來(lái)源:Macromolecular Bioscience
發(fā)表時(shí)間:2010年
A new type of pH-responsive block copolymer nanoparticle has been synthesized and
characterized. The amphiphilic diblock copolymer, PEG-b-PMYM, contains acid-labile ortho
ester side-chains in the hydrophobic block and can self-assemble into micelle-like nanoparticles in water at neutral pH. Hydrolysis of the ortho ester side-chains follows a distinct exocyclic mechanism and shows pH-dependent kinetics, which triggers changes in nanoparticle size and morphology. The nanoparticles have been found to be non-toxic to cells in vitro. The ability to tune the size and morphology of biocompatible
block copolymer nanoparticles by controlling the pH-sensitive side-chain hydrolysis
represents a unique approach that may be exploited to improve the efficacy of nanometerscale drug delivery.