Amphiphilic polymers based on polyoxazoline as relevant nanovectors for photodynamic therapy

J Mater Chem B. 2019 Aug 14;7(32):4973-4982. doi: 10.1039/c9tb00118b.

Abstract

An amphiphilic polymer (CmPOX) based on poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) linked to a hydrophobic part composed of an aliphatic chain ending with a photo-active coumarin group has been synthesized. It exhibits the ability of forming small polymeric self-assemblies, typically of ca. 10 nm in size, which were characterized by TEM, cryo-TEM and DLS. The nanocarriers were further formulated to yield photo-crosslinked systems by dimerization of coumarin units of coumarin-functionalized poly(methyl methacrylate) (CmPMMA) and CmPOX. The formed vectors were used to encapsulate Pheophorbide a, a known photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy. Cytotoxicity as well as phototoxicity experiments performed in vitro on human tumor cells revealed the great potential of these nanovectors for photodynamic therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Chlorophyll / analogs & derivatives
  • Chlorophyll / chemistry
  • Chlorophyll / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions*
  • Oxazoles / chemistry*
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate / chemistry

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Oxazoles
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Polymers
  • Chlorophyll
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate
  • pheophorbide a