Amphiphilic block copolymers bearing ortho ester side-chains: pH-dependent hydrolysis and self-assembly in water

Rupei Tang, Weihang Ji, Chun Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new type of pH-responsive block copolymer nanoparticle has been synthesized and characterized. The amphiphilic diblock copolymer, PEG-b-PMYM, contains acid-labile ortho ester side-chains in the hydrophobic block and can self-assemble into micelle-like nanoparticles in water at neutral pH. Hydrolysis of the ortho ester side-chains follows a distinct exocyclic mechanism and shows pH-dependent kinetics, which triggers changes in nanoparticle size and morphology. The nanoparticles have been found to be non-toxic to cells in vitro. The ability to tune the size and morphology of bio-compatible block copolymer nanoparticles by controlling the pH-sensitive side-chain hydrolysis represents a unique approach that may be exploited to improve the efficacy of nanometer-scale drug delivery. (Chemical Equation Presented)

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)192-201
Number of pages10
JournalMacromolecular Bioscience
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 11 2010

Keywords

  • Block copolymers
  • Drug delivery
  • Nanoparticles
  • Ortho ester
  • pH responsive

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