title: Access to different nanostructures via self-assembly of thiourea-containing PEGylated amphiphiles.
abstract: Readily water-soluble PEGylated amphiphiles containing bis-thiourea-based molecular recognition units at the interface of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks are developed. Self-assembly of these amphiphiles is found to be dependent on the exact chemical composition of the hydrophobic component. Elongated, spherical, and disk-like micelles are formed with the change in hydrophobic group from stearyl (2A), oleyl (2B), and dodecanol (2C), respectively. The length of the rod-like elongated micelles formed by 2A could be tuned by thermal treatment as well. Synthesis and detailed structural characterization of these amphiphiles by TEM, DSC, synchrotron SAXS techniques are reported. Organic solvent-free direct aqueous encapsulation of doxorubicin, an anticancer drug into these nanostructures is demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138669, Singapore.
authors.forename: Shrinivas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venkataraman
authors.forename: Zarir Ashraf
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Ashlynn L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yen Wah
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akiba
authors.forename: Yi Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008823:Micelles; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D013696:Temperature; D013890:Thiourea / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008823:Micelles; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004317:Doxorubicin; D013890:Thiourea