Nontoxic block copolymer nanospheres: design and characterization.
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.
Nardin
Corinne
C
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
Bolikal
Durgadas
D
Kohn
Joachim
J
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
D011092:Polyethylene Glycols