Synthesis and Characterization of pH-Responsive Poly(2-hydroxyethyl aspartamide)-g-Poly(β-amino ester) Graft Copolymer Micelles as Potential Drug Carriers

摘要

Novel pH-responsive graft copolymers consisting of poly(2-hydroxyethyl aspartamide)-g-poly(β-amino ester) (PHEA-g-PAE) were prepared from polysuccinimide, which is a thermal polycondensation product of aspartic acid, via the Michael-addition reaction with β-amino ester moieties. The chemical structures of the prepared graft copolymers were characterized by ~1H NMR. Their micelle properties were examined by dynamic light scattering and fluorescence spectrometry. The transmission electron microscopy images demonstrated that these micelles were regularly spherical in shape. For cancer therapy, doxorubicin (DOX) was efficiently encapsulated into the micelles. The DOX loaded micelles exhibited relatively sharp pH-dependent DOX release behavior.