| Autor: |
Flowers M; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 7-105 Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church Street S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA., Mertens N; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 7-105 Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church Street S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA., Billups A; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 7-105 Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church Street S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA., Ogle BM; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 7-105 Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church Street S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA., Wang C; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 7-105 Hasselmo Hall, 312 Church Street S.E, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Background/Objectives : Hydrophobic semi-solid or liquid biodegradable polymers have shown unique advantages as injectable matrices for sustained release of a wide range of drugs. Here we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of a new low-melt liquid copolymer based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and establish its utility as a versatile delivery platform. Methods : The copolymer, mPA20, consisting of short PCL blocks connected via acid-labile acetal linkages, was synthesized using a one-pot reaction and its properties were comprehensively characterized. Results : mPA20 is an amorphous, injectable liquid at physiological temperature and can undergo pH-sensitive hydrolytic degradation. mPA20 bearing methacrylate end groups can be photo-crosslinked into solid matrices with tunable mechanical properties. A hydrophobic fluorophore, Nile Red (NR), was solubilized in mPA20 without any solvent. Sustained release of NR into aqueous medium was achieved using mPA20, either as an injectable liquid depot or a photo-crosslinked solid matrix. Further, mPA20 self-emulsified in water to form nanodroplets, which were subsequently photo-crosslinked into nanogels. Both the nanodroplets and nanogels mediated efficient intracellular delivery of NR with no cytotoxicity. Conclusions : mPA20, a new photo-crosslinkable, hydrophobic liquid copolymer with pH-sensitive degradability, is highly adaptable as either an injectable or implantable depot or nanoscale carrier for the controlled release and intracellular delivery of poorly soluble drugs. |
