title: Synthesis of poly(alpha,beta-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-aspartamide])-folate for drug delivery.
abstract: Poly(alpha,beta-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-aspartamide])-folate (PHEA-FA) was synthesized by linking FA to a poly(alpha,beta-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-aspartamide]) (PHEA) backbone. The chemical structure of PHEA-FA was characterized by (1)H-NMR and FT-IR. The molecular weights of the polymers were determined by combined size-exclusion chromatography and multiangle laser light scattering (SEC-MALLS) analysis. Due to the incorporation of FA, PHEA-FA exhibited pH-sensitive aggregation behavior in aqueous media. As characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, PHEA-FA could self-assemble to form aggregates in acidic and neutral aqueous solutions, and became soluble in a basic solution. The potential application of PHEA-FA in drug delivery was explored. Drug-loaded PHEA-FA nanoparticles were fabricated and the in vitro drug release of the drug-loaded nanoparticles was investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the nanoparticles exhibited a spherical morphology with particle sizes <100 nm. The in vitro study showed PHEA-FA exhibited enhanced cell uptake on the folate-receptor-positive cells because of the folate-mediated targeting.
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: Song-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Li
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: D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011506:Proteins / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011506:Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C551628:poly(alpha,beta-(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)aspartamide))folate; D005492:Folic Acid