SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE
Polymeric micelles from block copolymers containing 2,6-diacylaminopyridine units for encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs†
Abstract
The paper describes the synthesis and characterization of novel amphiphilic block copolymers composed of a hydrophilic (polyethylene glycol) block and a hydrophobic polymetacrylate block with pendant 2,6-acylaminopyridine units. As demonstrated by TEM, these polymers are capable of forming stable spherical micelles in water with diameters of 18–25 nm, depending on the average molar mass, determined by dynamic light scattering. The polymeric micelles are sensitive to pH and can encapsulate hydrophobic molecules such as Nile Red. The cytotoxicity of the block copolymers has been tested in HeLa and Lunet cell lines and proved to be adequate. The polymeric micelles have been used to load camptothecin (CPT), an effective antiviral against hepatitis C virus (HCV), by simple physical diffusion. The antiviral activity against HVC of these CPT-loaded polymeric micelles has been tested on Huh 5-2 Lunet cells, demonstrating the potential of these polymers as nanocarriers for drug delivery applications.
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