title: Nontoxic block copolymer nanospheres: design and characterization.
abstract: Biodegradable polymers capable of self-assembly into hollow nanospheres of less than 100 nm have significant potential for biotechnology applications such as drug delivery and gene therapy. Here we describe the synthesis of a novel ABA-type triblock copolymer made from a hydrophobic tyrosine-derived core and two hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) end groups (poly(ethylene glycol)-block-oligo(desaminotyrosyltyrosine octyl ester suberate)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)). We describe the self-assembly of this triblock copolymer and characterize its particles as 100 nm size vesicular nanospheres. The vesicular nature of these particles was determined by light scattering and electron microscopy. The nanospheres did not exhibit any short-term cytotoxicity toward UMR-106 cells at a concentration up to 2 mg/mL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nardin
authors.forename: Durgadas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bolikal
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kohn
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols