@article{3012347,
    title = "PH-responsive aggregates from double hydrophilic block copolymers carrying zwitterionic groups. Encapsulation of antiparasitic compounds for the treatment of leishmaniasis",
    author = "Karanikolopoulos, N. and Pitsikalis, M. and Hadjichristidis, N. and Georgikopoulou, K. and Calogeropoulou, T. and Dunlap, J.R.",
    journal = "Langmuir",
    year = "2007",
    volume = "23",
    number = "8",
    pages = "4214-4224",
    issn = "0743-7463, 1520-5827",
    doi = "10.1021/la0628827",
    keywords = "Antiparasitic drugs;  Phosphorozwitterions;  Zwitterionic groups, Amines;  Atom transfer radical polymerization;  Drug products;  Dynamic light scattering;  pH effects;  Synthesis (chemical), Block copolymers, amine;  antiprotozoal agent;  methacrylic acid derivative;  nylon;  poly(2 (dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate);  poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate);  polymer;  unclassified drug, animal;  article;  chemical model;  chemistry;  chromatography;  conformation;  drug design;  Leishmania;  leishmaniasis;  methodology;  micelle;  pH;  temperature, Amines;  Animals;  Antiprotozoal Agents;  Chemistry, Pharmaceutical;  Chromatography;  Drug Design;  Hydrogen-Ion Concentration;  Leishmania;  Leishmaniasis;  Methacrylates;  Micelles;  Models, Chemical;  Molecular Conformation;  Nylons;  Polymers;  Temperature",
    abstract = "A series of well-defined poly [(ethylene oxide)-b-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PEO-b-PDMAEMA) diblock copolymers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) techniques. Post-polymerization reactions were performed to transform a portion of the tertiary amine groups of the PDMAEMA into phosphorozwitterions. The aggregation behavior of the prepared zwitterionic block copolymers was investigated by static and dynamic light scattering techniques at 25 and 37 °C, in weakly basic and acidic aqueous solutions. Antiparasitic drugs used for the treatment of Leishmania were incorporated into the copolymer aggregates. The effect of the solution pH, the zwitterion content, temperature, and the quantity of the incorporated drug on the aggregation behavior of the copolymers was tested. © 2007 American Chemical Society."
}