A series of poly(ethylene glycol)-polylactide (PEG-PLA) diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide using monomethoxy PEG as macroinitiator and zinc lactate as catalyst. Filomicelles were prepared from the resulting copolymers by co-solvent evaporation method. The biocompatibility of the various filomicelles was evaluated with the aim of assessing their potential as drug carriers. Various aspects of biocompatibility were considered, including agar diffusion test, MTT assay, release of cytokines, hemolytic test, dynamic clotting time, protein adsorption in vitro, and zebrafish embryonic compatibility in vivo. The results revealed that the filomicelles present good cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility in vitro. Moreover, the cumulative effects of filomicelles throughout embryos deveploping stages have no toxicity in vivo. It is thus concluded that filomicelles prepared from PEG-PLA copolymers with outstanding biocompatibility are promising as potential drug carrier.
Keywords: Filomicelles; biocompatibility; diblock copolymer; zebrafish.