title: Poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(L-amino acid) micelles for drug delivery.
abstract: Block copolymer micelles encapsulate water insoluble drugs by chemical and physical means, and they may target therapeutics to their site of action in a passive or active way. In this review, we focus on micelles self-assembled from poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(L-amino acid) (PEO-b-PLAA). A common theme in these studies is the chemical modification of the core-forming PLAA block used to adjust and optimize the properties of PEO-b-PLAA micelles for drug delivery. Micelle-forming block copolymer-drug conjugates, micellar nanocontainers and polyion complex micelles have been obtained that mimic functional aspects of biological carriers, namely, lipoproteins and viruses. PEO-b-PLAA micelles may be advantageous in terms of safety, stability, and scale-up.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2N8, Canada.
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavasanifar
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: Glen S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008823:Micelles; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000737:chemistry; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents
chemical_list: D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D008823:Micelles; C402662:PEO-poly(lactide); D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011091:Polyesters; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols