title: The effect of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio of polymeric micelles on their endocytosis pathways into cells.
abstract: Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), a fluorescent probe, is coupled to amphiphilic monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (mPEG-PCL) copolymers. FITC-labeled mPEG-PCL copolymers self-assemble into micelles through the solvent evaporation method. The cellular internalization is examined using fluorescence microscopy on incubation of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts with micelles or free FITC solution. The effect of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio on the endocytosis mechanisms is evaluated by fluorescence microscopy on culturing of human hepatoblastoma cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, individually, mixed with the micelles holding the same parameters including micelle size, shape, and surface charges.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Jinrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shaobing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000378:metabolism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007783:Lactones / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008823:Micelles; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008954:Models, Biological; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; D008823:Micelles; C521904:poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone); D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate