Work

Synthesis of Polyethylene Glycol–Poly(glycerol carbonate) Block Copolymeric Micelles as Surfactant-Free Drug Delivery Systems

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: We report the synthesis of block copolymers of monomethoxylated polyethylene glycol and poly(glycerol carbonate) (mPEG- b -PGC) via the ring-opening polymerization of benzyl glycidyl ether, monomethoxylated polyethylene glycol, and carbon dioxide using a cobalt salen catalyst. The resulting block copolymers display high polymer/cyclic carbonate selectivity (>99%) and, if two oxirane monomers are used, random incorporation into the polymer feed. The resulting diblock mPEG- b -PGC polymer shows promise as a nanocarrier for surfactant-free, sustained chemotherapeutic delivery. mPEG- b -PGC, with paclitaxel conjugated to the pendant primary alcohol of the glycerol polymer backbone, readily forms 175 nm diameter particles in solution and contains 4.6 wt % paclitaxel (PTX), which is released over 42 days. The mPEG- b -PGC polymer itself is noncytotoxic, whereas the PTX-loaded nanoparticles are cytotoxic to lung, breast, and ovarian cancer cell lines.

Source: ACS Macro Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00275

Authors: Danielle M. Fitzgerald, Heng Zhang, Catalina Bordeianu, Yolonda L. Colson, Mark W. Grinstaff

Institutions: Boston University, Massachusetts General Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Boston University, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Cancer Institute