Asymmetric AB3 Miktoarm Star Polymers: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and Study of Micelle Stability Using AF4 for Efficient Drug Delivery

Macromol Biosci. 2015 Dec;15(12):1744-54. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201500186. Epub 2015 Aug 11.

Abstract

A simple and versatile methodology, which employs a combination of ring-opening polymerization and alkyne-azide click chemistry to synthesize amphiphilic AB3 miktoarm stars, is reported. Their aqueous self-assembly behavior was studied using dynamic light scattering, fluorescence, and asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4). AB3 miktoarm stars form micelles which incorporate curcumin with high efficiency, and significantly reduce the viability of glioblastoma cells in spheroids. We demonstrate that AF4 is an effective technique to determine the size distribution of self-assembled structures exposed to a biological medium. The ease, with which asymmetric AB3 miktoarm polymers are constructed, provides a platform that can be widely employed to deliver a variety of lipophilic drugs.

Keywords: amphiphilic miktoarm star polymer; drug delivery systems; field-flow fractionation; glioblastoma spheroids; micelles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradable Plastics* / chemistry
  • Biodegradable Plastics* / pharmacokinetics
  • Biodegradable Plastics* / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Click Chemistry*
  • Curcumin* / chemistry
  • Curcumin* / pharmacokinetics
  • Curcumin* / pharmacology
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Micelles

Substances

  • Biodegradable Plastics
  • Micelles
  • Curcumin