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Abstract
Stimuli-responsive polymers as drug delivery vehicles have generated remarkable interest among polymer researchers during the last decade. In the present work, we report the synthesis of a new water soluble pH- and thermo-responsive biocompatible block copolymer containing phenylalanine derivatives. The block copolymer formed micelle-like self-assembled nanoparticles above critical aggregation concentration, as confirmed from fluorescence spectroscopy, DLS, and AFM studies. The self-assembly behavior was dependent on the pH and temperature of the aqueous media. These self-assembled micellar nanoparticles were capable of encapsulating hydrophobic drugs as demonstrated by the significantly higher loading capacity value of Doxorubicin (DOX) compared to commonly reported values in the literature. The release of DOX from the nanoparticles was favored at lower pH and higher temperature, a condition prevalent in cancer cells. Biocompatibility of the block copolymer and the effectiveness of the nanoparticles in potential cancer therapy were established by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) studies using non-cancerous murine fibroblasts L929 cells and breast cancer cell line MDA MB 231 at 37 °C and 42 °C. The cytotoxicity of DOX loaded polymer nanoparticles was found to be more effective at 42 °C compared to 37 °C. Thus, these micellar nanoparticles hold promise in drug delivery application in cancer therapy.
Graphical Abstract
