Preparation, drug release and cellular uptake of doxorubicin-loaded dextran-b-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) nanoparticles

Amphiphilic dextran-b-poly(ɛ-caprolactone) diblock copolymers were synthesized with the purpose of preparing nanocarriers for doxorubicin (DOX), an anticancer drug. The Dex-b-PCL diblock copolymers were synthesized by end-to-end coupling of amino-terminated dextran and aldehyde-terminated poly(ɛ-caprolactone) and characterized by 1H NMR spectra and gel permeation chromatography. The DOX-loaded Dex-b-PCL nanoparticles were prepared by a modified nanoprecipitation method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. In vitro release of DOX from DOX-Dex-b-PCL nanoparticles showed a sustained release manner with certain amount of burst release in the first 9 h. In vitro cytotoxicity test of DOX-Dex-b-PCL nanoparticles against SH-SY5Y cells showed that DOX is still pharmacologically active after drug loading. The fluorescence imaging results showed that DOX-Dex-b-PCL nanoparticles could be easily uptaken by SH-SY5Y cells. These results indicate that DOX-Dex-b-PCL nanoparticles may be a promising nanocarrier for DOX.

► Dextran-b-PCL diblock copolymers were synthesized by the end-to-end coupling between dextran and poly(ɛ-caprolactone).
► Drug-loaded dextran-b-PCL nanoparticles were prepared by a modified nanoprecipitation method.
► In vitro release of drug from dextran-b-PCL nanoparticles showed a sustained release manner.
► The fluorescence imaging showed that Dex-b-PCL nanoparticles could be easily uptaken by cancer cells.