Galactosylated micelles for a ribavirin prodrug targeting to hepatocytes

Biomacromolecules. 2013 Jun 10;14(6):1838-49. doi: 10.1021/bm4002409. Epub 2013 May 10.

Abstract

Polymeric micelles potentially able to carry to hepatocytes a ribavirin (RBV) prodrug, exploiting the presence of carbohydrate receptors, that is, ASGPR, were prepared starting from a galactosylated polylactide-polyaminoacid conjugate. This latter was obtained by chemical reaction of α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl) (2-aminoethylcarbamate)-dl-aspartamide (PHEA-EDA) with polylactic acid (PLA), and subsequent reaction with lactose, obtaining PHEA-EDA-PLA-GAL copolymer. To enhance the entrapment into obtained nanostructures, a hydrophobic RBV prodrug, that is, RBV tripalmitate, was synthesized and its capability to release RBV in the presence of an adequate enzymatic activity was demonstrated. Liver-targeted RBV tripalmitate-loaded micelles were obtained in aqueous media at low PHEA-EDA-PLA-GAL copolymer concentration value with nanometric size. By in vitro experiments, the specificity of RBV tripalmitate-loaded PHEA-EDA-PLA-GAL micelles toward HepG2 was demonstrated by using a competitive inhibition assay in the presence of free GAL. This finding raises hope in terms of future micelles-based liver-targeted drug delivery strategy for the hepatitis C treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Galactose / chemistry*
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Micelles*
  • Prodrugs*
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage
  • Ribavirin / chemistry*
  • Ribavirin / pharmacology
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Micelles
  • Prodrugs
  • Ribavirin
  • Galactose