Thermo-/pH-dual responsive properties of hyperbranched polyethylenimine grafted by phenylalanine

Arch Pharm Res. 2014 Jan;37(1):142-8. doi: 10.1007/s12272-013-0288-y. Epub 2013 Nov 22.

Abstract

Novel thermo- and pH-dual responsive amphiphilic copolymers were synthesized based on hyperbranched polyethylenimine (PEI) by grafting L-phenylalanine. The phenylalanine-modified PEI exhibited lower cytotoxicity than commercial PEI. These copolymers showed the phenomena of phase transitions in response to pH and temperature. The dilute copolymer solution at lower pH displayed the higher LCST. Furthermore, LCST increased with the increasing of phenylalanine grafting density. LCST of these copolymers were tunable from 7.2 to 59.6 °C by the degree of amidation and pH of solution. DLS and TEM experiments certified that the copolymer chains aggregated to form small size particles as increasing the temperature above LCST. For these reasons, the obtained smart copolymers were considered to be potential gene/drug carriers in biomedical field.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials*
  • Drug Carriers*
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Molecular Structure
  • Particle Size
  • Phenylalanine / analogs & derivatives
  • Phenylalanine / chemical synthesis*
  • Phenylalanine / toxicity
  • Polyethyleneimine / chemical synthesis*
  • Polyethyleneimine / toxicity
  • Technology, Pharmaceutical / methods
  • Temperature*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Drug Carriers
  • Phenylalanine
  • Polyethyleneimine