Smart Polymeric Nanocarriers of Met-enkephalin

Biomacromolecules. 2016 Aug 8;17(8):2691-700. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00725. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

Abstract

This study describes a novel approach to polymeric nanocarriers of the therapeutic peptide met-enkephalin based on the aggregation of thermoresponsive polymers. Thermoresponsive bioconjugate poly((di(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate)-ran-(oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether methacrylate) is synthesized by AGET ATRP using modified met-enkephalin as a macroinitiator. The abrupt heating of bioconjugate water solution leads to the self-assembly of bioconjugate chains and the formation of mesoglobules of controlled sizes. Mesoglobules formed by bioconjugates are stabilized by coating with cross-linked two-layer shell via nucleated radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide using a degradable cross-linker. The targeting peptide RGD, containing the fluorescence marker carboxyfluorescein, is linked to a nanocarrier during the formation of the outer shell layer. In the presence of glutathione, the whole shell is completely degradable and the met-enkephalin conjugate is released. It is anticipated that precisely engineered nanoparticles protecting their cargo will emerge as the next-generation platform for cancer therapy and many other biomedical applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Enkephalin, Methionine / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Oligopeptides
  • Polymers
  • Enkephalin, Methionine
  • arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid