title: A novel dextran-oleate-cRGDfK conjugate for self-assembly of nanodrug.
abstract: We report a novel synthetic biocompatible material: a conjugate with a fatty acid-substituted dextran decorated with cRGDfK peptide, which was used as a stable coating material instead of the conventional poly(ethylene glycol) for nanodrug preparation. This novel dextran-oleate-cRGDfK conjugate (DO-cRGDfk) could self-assemble into a micellar structure in aqueous solution, and was used as a surfactant to formulate nanodrug with poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic) acid as matrix to encapsulate paclitaxel with high drug-loading efficiency. The conjugate allowed the fabrication of nanodrug with a targeting moiety on its surface in a simple and robust step. The resultant nanoparticles could induce cellular apoptosis more effectively than that of the commercial paclitaxel formulation, Taxol. Thus, DO-cRGDfk could be used as an alternative to poly(ethylene glycol) as a biocompatible surface coating polymeric material for nanoparticle preparation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The authors describe a novel synthetic biocompatible conjugate, which consists of a fatty acid-substituted dextran decorated with cRGDfK peptide. This conjugate was used as a stable coating material for nanodrug preparation, and can be used in place of conventional PEG.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Experimental and Applied Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (LEAP2), Department of Pharmacy,National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ting Yee
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003911:Dextrans / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008823:Micelles; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003911:Dextrans; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008823:Micelles; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C099250:cyclic (arginyl-glycyl-aspartyl-phenylalanyl-lysyl); D014867:Water; D019301:Oleic Acid; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017239:Paclitaxel