title: Single-Chain Polymeric Nanocarriers: A Platform for Determining Structure-Function Correlations in the Delivery of Molecular Cargo.
abstract: There has been growing interest in producing stable, biocompatible nanocarriers for the controlled delivery of therapeutics. With micelles, it remains a challenge to predict a priori the size, aggregation number, and functionality of the self-assembled aggregates. Utilizing controlled radical polymerization techniques, we have prepared tunable high molecular weight amphiphilic comb copolymers that self-assemble into unimolecular "micelle-like" nanocarriers of predictable size and functionality. Excellent control over self-assembly behavior and structure allows for systematic determination of the role of important polymeric material properties (i.e., glass transition) on the release of model therapeutics while simultaneously controlling for size, dispersity, structural, and functionality effects. Moreover, these single-chain polymeric nanocarriers represent a class of drug delivery systems allowing for interrogation of the limitations of standard methods for characterization of micellar aggregates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University , Stanford, California 94305, United States.
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University , Stanford, California 94305, United States.
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University , Stanford, California 94305, United States.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2301-7126
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Appel
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D065546:Drug Liberation; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008689:Methacrylates; D011108:Polymers; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C450003:poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate polymer; C524499:polyethylene glycol methacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C016284:butyl methacrylate