title: Nucleobase-Functionalized Supramolecular Micelles with Tunable Physical Properties for Efficient Controlled Drug Release.
abstract: Complementary nucleobase-functionalized polymeric micelles, a combination of adenine-thymine (A-U) base pairs and a blend of hydrophilic-hydrophobic polymer pairs, can be used to construct 3D supramolecular polymer networks; these micelles exhibit excellent self-assembly ability in aqueous solution, rapid pH-responsiveness, high drug loading capacity, and triggerable drug release. In this study, a multi-uracil functionalized poly(ε-caprolactone) (U-PCL) and adenine end-capped difunctional oligomeric poly(ethylene glycol) (BA-PEG) are successfully developed and show high affinity and specific recognition in solution owing to dynamically reversible A-U-induced formation of physical cross-links. The U-PCL/BA-PEG blend system produces supramolecular micelles that can be readily adjusted to provide the desired critical micellization concentration, particle size, and stability. Importantly, in vitro release studies show that doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded micelles exhibit excellent DOX-encapsulated stability under physiological conditions. When the pH value of the solution is reduced from 7.4 to 5.0, DOX-loaded micelles can be rapidly triggered to release encapsulated DOX, suggesting these polymeric micelles represent promising candidate pH-responsive nanocarriers for controlled-release drug delivery and pharmaceutical applications.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan. cccheng@mail.ntust.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chih-Chia
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Chemistry, National Chiao Tung University, Hsin Chu, 30050, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Hong
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jem-Kun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Zhi-Sheng
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jyun-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan.|R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli, Taoyuan, 32043, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Duu-Jong
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xin
mesh_terms: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008823:Micelles; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D008823:Micelles; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004317:Doxorubicin; C000595209:polyethylene glycol 1000
keywords: biocomplementary interaction; controlled-release drug delivery; pH-responsive micelle; self-assembly; supramolecular polymer