A methyl methacrylate-HEMA-CL(n) copolymerization investigation: from kinetics to bioapplications

Macromol Biosci. 2013 Oct;13(10):1347-57. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201300152. Epub 2013 Jul 19.

Abstract

The radical copolymerization kinetics of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and poly-ϵ-caprolactone macromonomer functionalized with a vinyl end group (HEMA-CL(n)) is studied using a pulsed-laser technique. The reactivity ratios for this system are near unity, while a linear relationship between k(p,cop), the copolymer-averaged propagation rate coefficient, and the composition of macromonomer in the feed (0-80 wt% range) is determined. At 50 wt% macromonomer in the feed, a 1.67 ± 0.02 and 1.64 ± 0.06 increase in k(p,cop)/k(p,MMA) is determined for HEMA-CL3 and HEMA-CL2, respectively. These macromonomers are adopted to synthesize nanoparticles (NPs) in the range of 100-150 nm through batch emulsion free radical polymerization (BEP) to produce partially degradable drug delivery carriers. The produced NPs are tested in 4T1 cell line and show excellent characteristics as carriers: they do not affect cell proliferation, and a relevant number of NPs, thousands per cell, are internalized.

Keywords: caprolactone; endocytosis; methyl methacrylate; nanoparticles; pulsed laser polymerization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Carriers
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Methacrylates / administration & dosage
  • Methacrylates / chemistry*
  • Methylmethacrylate / administration & dosage
  • Methylmethacrylate / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / administration & dosage
  • Polymers / chemistry

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Methacrylates
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • Methylmethacrylate
  • polycaprolactone
  • hydroxyethyl methacrylate