title: Smart Polymeric Nanocarriers of Met-enkephalin.
abstract: This study describes a novel approach to polymeric nanocarriers of the therapeutic peptide met-enkephalin based on the aggregation of thermoresponsive polymers. Thermoresponsive bioconjugate poly((di(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate)-ran-(oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate) is synthesized by AGET ATRP using modified met-enkephalin as a macroinitiator. The abrupt heating of bioconjugate water solution leads to the self-assembly of bioconjugate chains and the formation of mesoglobules of controlled sizes. Mesoglobules formed by bioconjugates are stabilized by coating with cross-linked two-layer shell via nucleated radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide using a degradable cross-linker. The targeting peptide RGD, containing the fluorescence marker carboxyfluorescein, is linked to a nanocarrier during the formation of the outer shell layer. In the presence of glutathione, the whole shell is completely degradable and the met-enkephalin conjugate is released. It is anticipated that precisely engineered nanoparticles protecting their cargo will emerge as the next-generation platform for cancer therapy and many other biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences , M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 34, Zabrze, 41-819, Poland.
authors.forename: Roza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szweda
authors.affiliation: Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences , M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 34, Zabrze, 41-819, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trzebicka
authors.affiliation: Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences , M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 34, Zabrze, 41-819, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dworak
authors.affiliation: Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences , M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 34, Zabrze, 41-819, Poland.
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Otulakowski
authors.affiliation: Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences , M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 34, Zabrze, 41-819, Poland.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kosowski
authors.affiliation: Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences , M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 34, Zabrze, 41-819, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hertlein
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 103-A, Sofia, 1113, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haladjova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , Acad. G. Bonchev Str., bl. 103-A, Sofia, 1113, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rangelov
authors.affiliation: Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences , M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 34, Zabrze, 41-819, Poland.
authors.forename: Dawid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Szweda
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011108:Polymers; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid