pH-sensitive micelles with hydrophilic core and hydrophilic corona were fabricated by self-assembling of triblock copolymer of poly(methylacrylic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(methylacrylic acid) at lower solution pH. Transmission electron microscopy and laser light scattering studies showed micelles were in nano-scale with narrow size distribution. Solution pH value and the micelles concent...

Polymeric micelles are emerging as attractive drug delivery systems. Hydrophobic drugs including photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy can be covalently bound or physically entrapped in the core of the micelles and thus be systemically delivered to, for example, tumors using passive or active targeting strategies. Polymers used for photosensitizer encapsulation include pluronics, poly(ethyl...

Polymeric micelles with a controlled size in the range between 41 and 80 nm were prepared by injecting the organic phase through a microengineered nickel membrane or a tapered-end glass capillary into an aqueous phase. The organic phase was composed of 1 mg·mL(-1) of PEG-b-PCL diblock copolymers with variable molecular weights, dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) or acetone. The pore size of the...

Self-assembled polymeric micelles can be used as efficient particulate emulsifiers. To explore the relationship between the structure and the oil-water interfacial behavior of the micelle emulsifiers, a new type of amphiphilic random copolymer, poly{(styrene-alt-maleic acid)-co-[styrene-alt-(N-3,4-dihydroxyphenylethyl-maleamic acid)]} (SMA-Dopa), was synthesized, self-assembled into micelles, a...

We describe the development of multifunctional polymeric micelles with cancer-targeting capability via alpha(v)beta(3) integrins, controlled drug delivery, and efficient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast characteristics. Doxorubicin and a cluster of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles were loaded successfully inside the micelle core. The presence of cRGD on the micelle sur...

Multifunctional Biotin-PEG-b-PLL(Mal)-peptide-DOX polymeric micelles were prepared to selectively eliminate cancer cells. The micelles were able to enhance cancer cell uptake via the receptor-mediated endocytosis and respond to the stimulus of cancer cell excessive secreted protease MMP-2 to release the anticancer drug and induce apoptosis of cancer cells in a targeted manner.

Objective: To construct carcinoma vascular endothelial-targeted polymeric nanomicelles with high magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sensitivity and to evaluate their biological safety and in vitro tumor-targeting effect, and to monitor their feasibility using clinical MRI scanner. Method: Amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) was synthesized via the r...

The development in the synthesis and self-assembly of patchy nanoparticles has resulted in the creation of complex hierarchical structures. Co-assembly of polymeric nanoparticles and protein molecules combines the advantages of polymeric materials and biomolecules, and will produce new functional materials. Co-assembly of positively charged patchy micelles and negatively charged bovine serum al...

A series of polydiacetylene (PDA) - based micelles were prepared from diacetylenic surfactant bearing polyethylene glycol, by increasing UV-irradiation times. These polymeric lipid micelles were analyzed by physicochemical methods, electron microscopy and NMR analysis. Cellular delivery of fluorescent dye suggests that adjusting the polymerization state is vital to reach the full in vitro poten...

One of the major obstacles that delay the clinical translation of polymeric micelle drug delivery systems is whether these self-assembled micelles can retain their integrity in blood following intravenous (IV) injection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of core functionalization on the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of polymeric micelles. The combination of ring-openi...