title: Poly(citric acid)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers--new biocompatible hybrid materials for nanomedicine.
abstract: Linear-dendritic ABA triblock copolymers containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as B block and hyperbranched poly(citric acid) (PCA) as A blocks were synthesized through polycondensation. The molecular self-assembly of synthesized PCA-PEG-PCA copolymers in water led to formation of nanoparticles and fibers in different sizes and shapes depending on the time and size of PCA blocks. Ten days after dissolving PCA-PEG-PCA copolymers in water, the size of fibers had reached several millimeters. Mixing a water solution of fluorescein as a small guest molecule and PCA-PEG-PCA copolymers led to the encapsulation of fluorescein by products of molecular self-assembly. To investigate their potential application in nanomedicine and to understand the limitations and capabilities of these materials as nanoexcipients in biological systems, different types of short-term in vitro cytotoxicity experiments on the HT1080 cell line (human fibrosarcoma) and hemocompatibility tests were performed. From the clinical editor: This manuscript investigates the potentials of linear-dendritic ABA triblock copolymers containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as B block and hyperbranched poly(citric acid) (PCA) as A blocks for future applications in nanomedicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ashkan Tavakoli
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Naeini
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adeli
authors.forename: Manouchehr
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vossoughi
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C554601:poly(citric acid)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(citric acid); D011092:Polyethylene Glycols