Developing Precisely Defined Drug-Loaded Nanoparticles by Ring-Opening Polymerization of a Paclitaxel Prodrug

Adv Healthc Mater. 2016 Aug;5(15):1868-73. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201600230. Epub 2016 Apr 25.

Abstract

Nanoparticles with high paclitaxel (PTX) loading and low systemic toxicity are prepared in scalable and versatile manner via one-step ring-opening polymerization of a prodrug monomer consisting of PTX that is appended to a cyclic carbonate through a hydrolysable ester linker. Initiating this monomer from a hydrophilic macroinitiator results in an amphiphilic diblock copolymer that spontaneously self-assembles into well-defined nanoparticles with tunable size.

Keywords: anticancer; nanoparticle; paclitaxel; prodrug; ring-opening polymerization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Carriers* / chemical synthesis
  • Drug Carriers* / chemistry
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Paclitaxel / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Prodrugs / chemistry*

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Prodrugs
  • Paclitaxel