Particle–cell
interactions, such as cellular uptake,
vary
depending on the particle size, shape, and surface properties. By
dynamic control of the physical properties of particles, microparticle–cell
interactions can intentionally be altered. Particle degradability
is also necessary for their application in the body. In this study,
we aimed to prepare degradable core–corona-type particles that
are deformed near the body temperature and investigated particle shape-dependent
cellular uptake. Degradable and transformable particles consisting
of poly(2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane)-co-poly(ethylene
glycol) with three-armed poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) were prepared.
The particle melting point was controlled by the chain length of the
three-armed PCL. Particle degradation occurred under both acidic and
alkaline conditions via ester group hydrolysis in the polymer backbones.
The rod-shaped microparticles prepared by uniaxial stretching at a
temperature above the melting point of the core showed less uptake
into macrophages than did the spherical microparticles. Therefore,
the degradable transformable particles enable macrophage interaction
control via stimuli-regulated particle shapes and are expected to
be applied as drug delivery carriers that can be decomposed and excreted
from the body.