title: Formation of thermo-sensitive polyelectrolyte complex micelles from two biocompatible graft copolymers for drug delivery.
abstract: Thermo-sensitive polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) micelles assembled from two biocompatible graft copolymers chitosan-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (CS-g-PNIPAM) and carboxymethyl cellulose-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (CMC-g-PNIPAM) were prepared for delivery of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The PEC micelles showed a narrow size distribution with core-shell structure, in which the core formed from positively charged CS and negatively charged CMC by electrostatic interactions and the shell formed from thermo-sensitive PNIPAM. The synthesized PEC micelles have lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) in the region of 37°C, which is favorable for smart drug delivery applications. The hydrogen bondings between PEC micelles and 5-FU increased the drug loading. Changing temperature, pH or ionic strength, a sustained and controlled release was observed due to the deformation of PEC micelles. Adding glutaraldehyde, a chemical crosslinking reagent, was an efficient way to reinforce the micelles structure and decrease the initial burst release. Cytotoxicity assays showed that drug-loaded PEC micelles retained higher cell inhibition efficiency in HeLa cells.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, China.
authors.forename: Guiying
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Junshen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004573:Electrolytes; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008823:Micelles; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011108:Polymers
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004573:Electrolytes; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: 5-fluorouracil; controlled release; graft copolymers; polyelectrolyte complex micelles; thermo-sensitivity