Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable Amphiphilic Star and Y-Shaped Block Copolymers as Potential Carriers for Vinorelbine

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Bahadori F., Dag A., Durmaz H., Cakir N., ONYUKSEL H., Tunca Ü., ...More

POLYMERS, vol.6, no.1, pp.214-242, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 6 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/polym6010214
  • Journal Name: POLYMERS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.214-242
  • Keywords: polymeric drug delivery systems, micelle, nano formulation, targeted cancer therapy, vinorelbine, amphiphilic block copolymer, star-shaped polymer, Y-shaped polymer, RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION, ALDER CLICK REACTION, DRUG-DELIVERY, POLY(ETHYLENE GLYCOL), BREAST-CANCER, MICELLES, NANOPARTICLES, RELEASE, SOLUBILIZATION, NANOMEDICINE
  • Bezmialem Vakıf University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Two amphiphilic block copolymers using hydrophobic poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were successfully synthesized. One of them is an (A-b-B)(4) type star polymer [(PCL-b-PEG)(4)] and the other one is a Y-shaped PEG-(PCL)(2). A star-shaped polymer (PCL-b-PEG)(4) was prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of epsilon-caprolactone continued by click reaction of (PCL-azide)(4) and PEG-alkyne. The synthesis of Y-shaped PEG-(PCL)(2) block copolymer was carried out via Diels-Alder click reaction of a furan protected maleimide end-functionalized PEG (PEG-MI) with an anthracene end-functionalized PCL following the ROP of epsilon-caprolactone. The characterization of micelles is carried out using both materials in aqueous media as drug delivery vehicles, which showed satisfying results and enhanced the cytotoxic effect of the anti-cancer drug vinorelbine (VLB). However, micelles consisted of Y-shaped unimers were found to be more convenient for delivery of hydrophobic drugs such as VLB because they formed in lower concentration, carrying a higher amount of drugs and owing a monomodal distribution. We concluded that the free tails of hydrophobic chains in Y-shaped block copolymer facilitate the assembly of amphiphilic material in water to form micelles.