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Biodegradable drug carriers based on poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers
Author(s) -
Pechar Michal,
Strohalm Jiří,
Ulbrich Karel,
Schacht Etienne
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.1997.021980408
Subject(s) - copolymer , ethylene glycol , polymer chemistry , drug carrier , chemistry , block (permutation group theory) , materials science , polymer science , drug delivery , organic chemistry , polymer , geometry , mathematics
The synthesis of a model water‐soluble drug carrier system based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) block copolymers is described. In the system, two blocks of PEG are connected via a biodegradable oligopeptide or amino acid linkage incorporating at least one glutamic acid residue. A drug model (4‐nitroaniline) is attached to the γ‐carboxyl group of glutamic acid of the polymer carrier via an enzymatically degradable oligopeptide spacer. All oligopeptides were prepared as potential substrates for cathepsin B, a representative of lysosomal enzymes. The relationship between the structure of oligopeptides forming the linkage between two PEG molecules and the rate of cathepsin B‐catalyzed polymer chain degradation is evaluated. The relationship between the structure of the spacer and kinetics of drug model release from the carrier after incubation in cathepsin B solution is also discussed in detail. The results show that, by altering the structure of oligopeptides in the polymer construct, marked changes in the rate of both polymer degradation and the drug model release can be achieved.