Department of Chemistry

Biocompatible PEO-b-PCL Nanosized Micelles Drug Carriers: Structure and Drug-Polymer Interactions

English

We report on the preparation of drug nanocarriers by encapsulating losartan potassium (LSR)
into amphiphilic block copolymer micelles, utilizing the biocompatible/biodegradable poly(ethylene
oxide)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) diblock copolymer. The PEO-b-PCL micelles and
LSR-loaded PEO-b-PCL nanocarriers were prepared by organic solvent evaporation method
(OSEM). Light scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provide information on micelle
structure and polymer–drug interactions. According to dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis,
the PEO-b-PCL micelles and LSR-loaded PEO-b-PCL nanocarriers formed nanostructures in the range
of 17–26 nm in aqueous milieu. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR)
and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) measurements confirmed the presence of LSR in the polymeric drug
solutions. NMR results proved the successful encapsulation of LSR into the PEO-b-PCL micelles
by analyzing the drug–micelles intermolecular interactions. Specifically, 2D-NOESY experiments
clearly evidenced the intermolecular interactions between the biphenyl ring and butyl chain of LSR
structure with the methylene signals of PCL. Additionally, NMR studies as a function of temperature
demonstrated an unexpected, enhanced proton mobility of the PEO-b-PCL micellar core in D2O
solutions, probably caused by the melting of the PCL hydrophobic core.

2020

A. Chroni, T. Mavromoustakos, S. Pispas

Journal of Nanomaterials

MDPI

10

-

1872

amphiphilic block copolymers; polymeric nanocarriers; drug delivery systems; organic solvent evaporation method; drug encapsulation; drug–polymer intermolecular interaction

Science

https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10091872

10.3390/nano10091872

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