Drug Delivery: Hydrophobic Drug Encapsulation into Amphiphilic Block Copolymer Micelles

Methods Mol Biol. 2021:2207:71-83. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0920-0_6.

Abstract

Drug encapsulation into amphiphilic block copolymer micelles aims to increase drug solubility and minimize drug degradation upon administration, avoid undesirable side effects and ameliorate drug bioavailability. Drug encapsulation methodologies including thin-film hydration method and organic cosolvent method are described in this chapter. Often, it is desirable to determine the most efficient solubilization protocol leading to functional drug delivery nanovehicles in each case. The encapsulation of curcumin into PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO (Pluronic F-127) polymeric micelles through thin-film hydration method presents the most promising results. Indomethacin can be loaded successfully into the hydrophobic cores of PEO-b-PCL amphiphilic block copolymer micelles following both encapsulation protocols.

Keywords: Block copolymers; Curcumin; Drug delivery; Encapsulation processes; Indomethacin; Organic solvent evaporation; Thin-film hydration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Curcumin / chemistry*
  • Curcumin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / therapeutic use
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Micelles*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use
  • Propylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Propylene Glycols / therapeutic use
  • Solubility

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Micelles
  • PEO-PPO-PEO
  • Propylene Glycols
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Curcumin