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The Effect of the Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Ratio of Polymeric Micelles on their Endocytosis Pathways into Cells
Author(s) -
Zhang Zhao,
Qu Qianqian,
Li Jinrong,
Zhou Shaobing
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
macromolecular bioscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1616-5195
pISSN - 1616-5187
DOI - 10.1002/mabi.201300037
Subject(s) - micelle , endocytosis , chemistry , amphiphile , fluorescence microscope , copolymer , ethylene glycol , biophysics , fluorescein , fluorescein isothiocyanate , confocal microscopy , fluorescence , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , aqueous solution , biochemistry , polymer , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), a fluorescent probe, is coupled to amphiphilic monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (mPEG‐PCL) copolymers. FITC‐labeled mPEG‐PCL copolymers self‐assemble into micelles through the solvent evaporation method. The cellular internalization is examined using fluorescence microscopy on incubation of NIH‐3T3 fibroblasts with micelles or free FITC solution. The effect of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio on the endocytosis mechanisms is evaluated by fluorescence microscopy on culturing of human hepatoblastoma cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, individually, mixed with the micelles holding the same parameters including micelle size, shape, and surface charges.