PEG Grafted-Nanodiamonds for the Delivery of Gemcitabine

Macromol Rapid Commun. 2016 Dec;37(24):2023-2029. doi: 10.1002/marc.201600344. Epub 2016 Nov 4.

Abstract

Carboxyl end-functionalized poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] [P(PEGMEMA)] and its block copolymer with gemcitabine substituted poly(N-hydroxysuccinimide methacrylate) [PGem-block-P(PEGMEMA)] are synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Then, two polymers are grafted onto the surface of amine-functionalized nanodiamonds to obtain [P(PEGMEMA)]-grafted nanodiamonds (ND-PEG) and [PGem-block-P(PEGMEMA)]-grafted nanodiamonds (ND-PF). Gemcitabine is physically absorbed to ND-PEG to produce ND-PEG (Gem). Two polymer-grafted nanodiamonds (i.e., with physically absorbed gemcitabine ND-PEG (Gem) and with chemically conjugated gemcitabine ND-PF) are characterized using attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and thermogravimetric analysis. The drug release, cytotoxicity (to seed human pancreatic carcinoma AsPC-1 cells), and cellular uptake of ND-PEG (Gem) and ND-PF are also investigated.

Keywords: drug delivery; gemcitabine; nanodiamonds; pancreatic cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxycytidine / chemistry
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacokinetics
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacology
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Nanodiamonds / chemistry*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*

Substances

  • Nanodiamonds
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • polyethylene glycol 1000
  • Gemcitabine