title: Novel cholic acid functionalized star oligo/poly(DL-lactide)s for biomedical applications.
abstract: Novel cholic acid functionalized star oligo/poly(DL-lactide)s with different molecular weights were synthesized through the ring-opening polymerization of DL-lactide initiated by cholic acid. Compared with poly(DL-lactide), these star oligo/poly(DL-lactide)s show faster hydrolytic degradation rates, and the degradation mechanism changes from bulk erosion to surface erosion with decreasing molecular weight. Based on the specific physicochemical properties of the novel star oligo/poly(DL-lactide), the drug delivery system with submicron size was fabricated using a very convenient "ultrasonic dispersion method" which did not involve toxic organic solvents. The in vitro drug release was studied.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Si-Xue
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Xian-Zheng
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ren-Xi
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Zhuo
mesh_terms: D019826:Cholic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide); D019826:Cholic Acid; D011241:Prednisone