Stimuli-responsive Unimer Nanoparticles Composed of Poly(amino acid) Derivatives as Promising Protein-mimetic Drug Carriers

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive unimer nanoparticles (NPs) composed of hydrophobized poly(γ-glutamic acid) were successfully prepared by a combination of hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bonds. The formation of hydrophobic associations and the existence of disulfide bonds were confirmed by UV spectroscopy and by treatment with dithiothreitol, respectively. Moreover, the release of hydrophobic drugs in response to a reducing agent was observed when compared to nonstimulus unimer NPs. These 10 nm-sized unimer NPs will be useful as reduction-responsive carriers.

Supramolecular Single-Chain Polymeric Nanoparticles

“…The unique character of these shielded domains, with respect to their environment, can be utilized for the encapsulation and the controlled release of hydrophobic molecules such as chiral amino acids, peptides, vitamins, and drug molecules. [152][153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160][161] The incorporation of gadolinium ions, gallium atoms, or fluorescent groups have allowed SCPNs to be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance and fluorescent imaging. 40,143,159,160,[162][163][164][165][166][167][168][169][170] Figure 12 | Schematic representation of the effect of the polymer's graft composition on the different inter-and intramolecular self-assembly pathways of supramolecular amphiphilic heterograft copolymers.…”