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pH‐Sensitive Poly(ethylene glycol)/Poly(ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether) Block Copolymers: Synthesis, Characterization, Encapsulation, and Delivery of a Hydrophobic Drug
Author(s) -
Illy Nicolas,
Corcé Vincent,
Zimbron Jérémy,
Molinié Vincent,
Labourel Mélanie,
Tresset Guillaume,
Degrouard Jéril,
Salmain Michèle,
Guégan Philippe
Publication year - 2019
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.201900210
Subject(s) - chemistry , ethylene glycol , curcumin , dynamic light scattering , copolymer , micelle , nuclear chemistry , polymer chemistry , solubility , amphiphile , nanoparticle , drug delivery , aqueous solution , organic chemistry , materials science , polymer , nanotechnology , biochemistry
Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound known for its numerous pharmacological properties. However, its low water solubility and instability at neutral pH are serious drawbacks preventing its use as an oral drug. Well‐defined amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether) (PEG‐ b ‐PEEGE) block copolymers carrying acid‐labile acetal groups are synthesized by anionic ring‐opening polymerization and investigated as potential pH‐sensitive nano‐carriers for delivery of curcumin to cancer cells. The nanoparticles, resulting from copolymer self‐assembly in aqueous media, are characterized by dynamic light scattering and cryo‐transmission electron microscopy. The nanoparticles’ stabilities are evaluated in three different phosphate buffers (pH = 7.2, 6.4, and 5.3). The stability decreases at lower pH and a complete disappearance of the nanoparticles is noticed after 4 days at pH 5.3. Curcumin is encapsulated in hydrophobic core of mPEG 40 ‐ b ‐PEEGE 25 nanoparticles allowing significant enhancements of curcumin solubility in water and lifetime at neutral pH. In vitro curcumin release is studied at different pH by UV‐spectroscopy and high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The cytotoxicity of curcumin and curcumin encapsulated in micelles is evaluated by cell viability 3‐(4,5‐Dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on MDA‐MB‐231 human breast cancer cells.