Synthesis of temperature/pH dual-sensitive supramolecular micelles from beta-cyclodextrin-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) star polymer for drug delivery

摘要

In this paper, temperature and pH dual-sensitive supramolecular micelles were constructed from star polymer beta-cyclodextrin-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (beta-CD-PNIPAM) and benzimidazole terminated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (BM-PCL). The supramolecular micelles were formed based on the reversible host-guest recognition between beta-CD and BM. The size of supramolecular micelles was about 50-100 nm and the LCST was about 30.5 degrees C. The drug loading efficiency of supramolecular micelles for DOX was high due to the hydrophobic micelles core of PCL and hydrophobic cavity of beta-CD. The release of drugs from supramolecular micelles was suppressed at neutral solution and room temperature but accelerated at acidic solution and 37 degrees C. The drug loaded supramolecular micelles exhibited higher anti-cancer activity than free drugs. These temperature and pH dual-sensitive supra molecular micelles might possess potential applications for anticancer drug delivery.