Amphiphilic block copolymers bearing ortho ester side-chains: pH-dependent hydrolysis and self-assembly in water
作者：tang rp, et al
關鍵字：self-assembly
論文來源：期刊
具體來源：Macromolecular Bioscience
發表時間：2010年
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 biocompatible
block copolymer nanoparticles by controlling the pH-sensitive side-chain hydrolysis
represents a unique approach that may be exploited to improve the efficacy of nanometerscale drug delivery.