Poly(2-oxazoline)-Pterostilbene Block Copolymer Nanoparticles for Dual-Anticancer Drug Delivery

Biomacromolecules. 2018 Jan 8;19(1):103-111. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b01279. Epub 2017 Dec 21.

Abstract

Functional block copolymers based on poly(2-oxazoline)s are versatile building blocks for the fabrication of dual-drug delivery nanoparticles (NPs) for anticancer chemotherapy. Core-shell NPs are fabricated from diblock copolymers featuring a long and hydrophilic poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PMOXA) block coupled to a relatively short and functionalizable poly(2-methylsuccinate-2-oxazoline) (PMestOXA) segment. The PMOXA block stabilizes the NP dispersions, whereas the PMestOXA segment is used to conjugate pterostilbene, a natural bioactive phenolic compound that is used as lipophilic model-drug and constitutes the hydrophobic core of the designed NPs. Subsequent loading of the NPs with clofazimine (CFZ), an inhibitor of the multidrug resistance pumps typically expressed in a large variety of cancer cells, provides an additional function to their formulation. Optimization of the copolymer composition allows the design of polymer scaffolds showing low toxicity and capable of assembling into highly stable NPs dispersions at physiologically relevant pH. In addition, the incorporation of CFZ increases the stability of the NPs and stimulates their internalization by RAW 264.7 cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Clofazimine / administration & dosage
  • Clofazimine / pharmacology
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple / drug effects
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Oxazoles / chemistry*
  • Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Stilbenes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Oxazoles
  • Stilbenes
  • poly(2-oxazoline)
  • pterostilbene
  • Clofazimine