Oxidation-Responsive Micelles Based on a Selenium-Containing Polymeric Superamphiphile

Abstract

We have fabricated a polymeric superamphiphile based on the electrostatic interaction between the double hydrophilic block copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-acrylic acid (PEG-b-PAA) and a selenium-containing surfactant (SeQTA). The polymeric superamphiphiles are able to self-assemble to form micelles in solution. The micelles can be disassembled with the addition of 0.1% H(2)O(2) because SeQTA is very sensitive to oxidation. The selenide group in SeQTA is oxidized into selenoxide (SeQTA-Ox) by H(2)O(2), which makes the surfactant more hydrophilic, thus leading to the disassembly of the micelles. In addition, small guest molecules such as fluorescein sodium can be loaded into the micelles made from the polymeric superamphiphiles and released in a controlled way under mild oxidation conditions. This study represents a new way to fabricate stimuli-responsive superamphiphiles for controlled self-assembly and disassembly.

Metal-containing and related polymers for biomedical applications

“…7. 79 Such side-chain selenium-containing PEG- b -PAA-SeQTA complex showed similar redox properties to PEG- b -PAA-Se polymers, which could also release drugs under oxidation and reduction.…”

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Responsive Polymers for Biomedical Applications

“…Poly(propylene sulfi de) [19][20][21][22] Selenium-containing polymers [26,28,29] [ 25,30] Telluriumcontaining polymers [35][36][37] Poly(thioketal) [38][39][40]46] [ [41][42][43][44][45]55] Phenylboronic acid/ ester containing polymers Poly(L-methionine) [49] Poly(L-proline) [53,54] Macromolecular Bioscience www.mbs-journal.de and SN38 resulted in enhanced proliferation inhibition of tumor cells via inducing cell apoptosis. In addition to drug carrier, the thioether-containing particles themselves can also show inherent therapeutic properties against oxidative stress.…”

Macromolecular self-assembly and nanotechnology in China

“…However, when pH changes to 6.5, which is about extracellular pH of tumour cells, the imine bonds are broken, and the superamphiphilic spherical aggregates are disassembled, releasing the encapsulated guest molecules [23]. Similar idea can also be used to fabricate oxidation responsive polymeric supra-amphiphiles by the complexation of PEG-b-PAA and selenium-containing positively charged surfactants [24]. …”