Synthesis and Colloidal Characterization of Folic Acid-modified PEG-b-PCL Micelles for Methotrexate Delivery

Publication date: Available online 6 February 2019Source: Colloids and Surfaces B: BiointerfacesAuthor(s): João Victor Brandt, Rodolfo Debone Piazza, Caio Carvalho dos Santos, Jaime Vega-Chacón, Bruno Estevam Amantéa, Gabriel Cardoso Pinto, Marina Magnani, Henrique Luís Piva, Antonio Claudio Tedesco, Fernando Lucas Primo, Miguel Jafelicci, Rodrigo Fernando Costa MarquesAbstractHydrophobic drugs, such as methotrexate, are not easily delivered into the human body. Therefore, the use of amphiphilic nanoplatforms to the transport of these drugs through the bloodstream is a challenge. While the hydrophobic region interacts with the drug, the hydrophilic outer layer enhances its bioavailability and circulation time. Poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) PEG-b-PCL micelles are biodegradable and biocompatible, allowing its use as a nanocarrier for drug delivery systems. The stealth property of PEG that composes the outer layer of nanoplatforms, makes the micelle unperceivable to phagocytic cells, increasing the circulation time in the human body. In addition, folic acid functionalization enables micelle selectively targeting to cancer cells, improving treatment efficiency and reducing side effects. In this work, PEG-b-PCL copolymer was synthesized by ring opening polymerization (ROP) of the ε-caprolactone with Poly(ethylene glycol) as a macroinitiator and tin(II) 2-ethyl hexanoate as a catalyst. Functionalization of such micelles with folic acid occurred through the...
Source: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research