Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1384346 | Carbohydrate Polymers | 2013 | 8 Pages |
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.