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Natural Triterpenoid‐ and Oligo(Ethylene Glycol)‐Pendant‐Containing Block and Random Copolymers: Aggregation and pH‐Controlled Release
Author(s) -
Li Ying,
Gao Yuxia,
Wang Bo,
Hao Jie,
Hu Jun,
Ju Yong
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemistry – an asian journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.18
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1861-471X
pISSN - 1861-4728
DOI - 10.1002/asia.201800761
Subject(s) - copolymer , ethylene glycol , micelle , nanocarriers , monomer , amphiphile , polymerization , polymer chemistry , chemistry , controlled release , ethylene oxide , organic chemistry , aqueous solution , drug delivery , materials science , polymer , nanotechnology
Abstract In this research, a series of random and block amphiphilic copolymers of norbornene derivatives containing biocompatible natural triterpenoid and oligo(ethylene glycol) pendants were synthesized by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization. These copolymers were heat and pH responsive, and could self‐assemble into core–shell spherical micelles in aqueous solution. Their hydrodynamic diameters corresponded to pH values and monomer sequences. By evaluating the loading and release capacity of hydrophobic molecules, it was found that 1) the higher the content of the hydrophobic triterpenoid, the higher the loading capacity; 2) the release speed could be trigged by the pH because of the deprotonation of the carboxyl groups on the triterpenoid. Additionally, the copolymers exhibited low cytotoxicity toward L929 cells, which makes them potential nanocarrier candidates for controlled drug delivery.