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Thermosensitive polymeric micelles based on the triblock copolymer poly( d,l ‐lactide)‐ b ‐poly( N ‐isopropyl acrylamide)‐ b ‐poly( d,l ‐lactide) for controllable drug delivery
Author(s) -
Li Peng,
Zhang Zhenfang,
Su Zhiqiang,
Wei Gang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.45304
Subject(s) - copolymer , lactide , polymer chemistry , micelle , polymerization , materials science , nanocarriers , lower critical solution temperature , acrylamide , drug delivery , aqueous solution , chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , composite material
A thermosensitive amphiphilic triblock copolymer, poly( d,l ‐lactide) (PLA)‐ b ‐poly( N ‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAM)‐ b ‐PLA, was synthesized by the ring‐opening polymerization of d,l ‐lactide; the reaction was initiated from a dihydroxy‐terminated poly( N ‐isopropyl acrylamide) homopolymer (HO‐PNIPAAM‐OH) created by radical polymerization. The molecular structure, thermosensitive characteristics, and micellization behavior of the obtained triblock copolymer were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1 H‐NMR, gel permeation chromatography, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. The obtained results indicate that the composition of PLA‐ b ‐PNIPAAM‐ b ‐PLA was in good agreement with what was preconceived. This copolymer could self‐assemble into spherical core–shell micelles (ca. 75–80 nm) in aqueous solution and exhibited a phase‐transition temperature around 26 °C. Furthermore, the drug‐delivery properties of the PLA‐ b ‐PNIPAAM‐ b ‐PLA micelles were investigated. The drug‐release test indicated that the synthesized PLA‐ b ‐PNIPAAM‐ b ‐PLA micelles could be used as nanocarriers of the anticancer drug adriamycin (ADR) to effectively control the release of the drug. The drug‐delivery properties of PLA‐ b ‐PNIPAAM‐ b ‐PLA showed obvious thermosensitive characteristics, and the release time of ADR could be extended to 50 h. This represents a significant improvement from previous PNIPAAM‐based drug‐delivery systems. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45304.