title: Preparation of thermo-responsive graft copolymer by using a novel macro-RAFT agent and its application for drug delivery.
abstract: A methodology to prepare thermo-responsive graft copolymer by using a novel macro-RAFT agent was proposed. The macro-RAFT agent with pendant dithioester (ZC(S)SR) was facilely prepared via the combination of RAFT polymerization and esterification reaction. By means of ZC(S)SR-initiated RAFT polymerization, the thermo-responsive graft copolymer consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-hydroxylethyl methacrylate) (P(MMA-co-HEMA)) backbone and hydrophilic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) side chains was constructed through the "grafting from" approach. The chemical compositions and molecular weight distributions of the synthesized polymers were respectively characterized by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Self-assembly behavior of the amphiphilic graft copolymers (P(MMA-co-HEMA)-g-PNIPAAm) was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and spectrofluorimeter. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) value was 0.052 mg mL(-1). These micelles have thermo-responsibility and a low critical solution temperature (LCST) of 33.5°C. Further investigation indicated that the guest molecule release property of these micelles, which can be well described by a first-order kinetic model, was significantly affected by temperature. Besides, the micelles exhibited excellent biocompatibility and cellular uptake property. Hence, these micelles are considered to have potential application in controlled drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Cunfeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Shirong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Yuanming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Yiting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Xiamen Stomatology Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Xiamen 361003, China. Electronic address: tinachen0628@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Fire Retardant Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China. Electronic address: lzdai@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lizong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D065546:Drug Liberation; D000067493:Dynamic Light Scattering; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008823:Micelles; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide; D004317:Doxorubicin
keywords: Drug delivery; Graft copolymer; Macro-RAFT agent; Self-assembly; Thermo-response