The Effect of the Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Ratio of Polymeric Micelles on their Endocytosis Pathways into Cells

Abstract

Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), a fluorescent probe, is coupled to amphiphilic monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (mPEG-PCL) copolymers. FITC-labeled mPEG-PCL copolymers self-assemble into micelles through the solvent evaporation method. The cellular internalization is examined using fluorescence microscopy on incubation of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts with micelles or free FITC solution. The effect of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio on the endocytosis mechanisms is evaluated by fluorescence microscopy on culturing of human hepatoblastoma cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, individually, mixed with the micelles holding the same parameters including micelle size, shape, and surface charges.

Enhanced transcellular penetration and drug delivery by crosslinked polymeric micelles into pancreatic multicellular tumor spheroids

“…11,30,31 Those inhibitors showed no acute toxicity to the cells in the in vitro cytotoxicity tests (ESI Methods and Fig. 3 †).…”

PEG-<em>b</em>-PCL polymeric nano-micelle inhibits vascular angiogenesis by activating p53-dependent apoptosis in zebrafish

“…28,29 Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled PEG-PCL (PEG-b-PCL-FITC) was synthesized as described in other publication. 30 A total of 0.02 mmol copolymer MPEG-PCL was dissolved in 10 mL dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and then 0.02 mmol FITC (Sigma-Aldrich) was added.…”

Electrospun Micelles/Drug‐Loaded Nanofibers for Time‐Programmed Multi‐Agent Release

“…PVA (hydrolysis degree: 1788) was purchased from Kelong Chemicals (Chengdu, China). Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL, ∼≈100 kDa) and amphiphilic mono‐methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (mPEG‐PCL) copolymers were synthesized as previously described . Curcumin was purchased from Chengdu labooo Company (Chengdu, China).…”

“…This model system, Cur‐Ms/Dox‐loaded nanofibers (Cur‐Ms/Dox‐nanofibers), can be acquired by electrospinning the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) water solution containing both Cur‐Ms and Dox. The polymeric micelles is fabricated from the biodegradable and amphiphilic monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (mPEG‐PCL) copolymer . The good stability of the micelles can be achieved by immobilizing them in nanofiber matrix, and thus the drug leaking generally occurring in modern micelle systems can be effectively inhibited.…”