Modified Carbohydrate Polymer Based Micelles for Cancer Targeted Drug Delivery Applications

S. S. Kesharwani, P. Muley, S. Kumar, F. El Kourati, H. Tummala South Dakota State University Purpose Micelles offer several advantages for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs including a ‘core-shell’ delivery system for drug targeting. A plethora of polymers have been investigated for micellar delivery systems. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) forms the hydrophilic part of most of these amphiphilic polymers due to its low toxicity and immunogenicity. However recent studies have shown that PEGylated micelles and liposomes undergo a phenomenon called as accelerated blood clearance (ABC phenomenon). In addition, PEGylation also affects the binding and uptake in the target cells. Thus recently hydrophobically modified polysaccharides are gaining recognition as micelle forming polymers to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs. The current study for the first time investigates self-assembling properties of a lauryl carbamate derivative of a natural, plant based, and safe polymer inulin (Inutec-SP1®, INT) to form nanomicelles, which could carry hydrophobic drugs for targeted delivery to cancer.