Block copolymer micelles with pendant bifunctional chelator for platinum drugs: effect of spacer length on the viability of tumor cells

Biomacromolecules. 2012 Apr 9;13(4):1010-23. doi: 10.1021/bm2017299. Epub 2012 Feb 29.

Abstract

Three monomers with 1,3-dicarboxylate functional groups but varying spacer lengths were synthesized via carbon Michael addition using malonate esters and ethylene- (MAETC), butylene- (MABTC), and hexylene (MAHTC) glycol dimethacrylate, respectively. Poly[oligo-(ethylene glycol) methylether methacrylate] (POEGMEMA) was prepared in the presence of a RAFT (reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer) agent, followed by chain extension with the prepared monomers to generate three different block copolymers (BP-E80, BP-B82, and BP-H79) with similar numbers of repeating units, but various spacer lengths as distinguishing features. Conjugation with platinum drugs created macromolecular platinum drugs resembling carboplatin. The amphiphilic natures of these Pt-containing block copolymers led to the formation micelles in solution. The rate of drug release of all micelles was similar, but a noticeable difference was the increasing stability of the micelle against dissociation with increasing spacer length. The platinum conjugated polymer showed high activity against A549, OVCAR3, and SKOV3 cancer cell lines exceeding the activity of carboplatin, but only the micelle based on the longest spacer had IC(50) values as low as cisplatin. Cellular uptake studies identified a better micelle uptake with increasing micelle stability as a possible reason for lower IC(50) values. The clonogenic assay revealed that micelles loaded with platinum drugs, in contrast to low molecular weight carboplatin, have not only better activity within the frame of a 72 h cell viability study, but also display a longer lasting effect by preventing the colony formation A549 for more than 10 days.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chelating Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Chelating Agents / chemistry
  • Chelating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Methacrylates / chemical synthesis
  • Methacrylates / chemistry
  • Micelles
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / chemistry
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Particle Size
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemical synthesis
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Surface Properties
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Chelating Agents
  • Methacrylates
  • Micelles
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • polyethylene glycol methacrylate
  • Polyethylene Glycols