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A Facile and Efficient Approach for the Production of Reversible Disulfide Cross-linked Micelles
Published on: December 23, 2016
Thermosensitive pluronic micelles stabilized by shell cross-linking with gold nanoparticles
Ki Hyun Bae1, Seung Ho Choi, Sung Young Park
1Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|June 28, 2006
Summary
Researchers created novel gold-Pluronic micelles with thermosensitive swelling behavior. These shell cross-linked micelles, using gold nanoparticles, show potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Pluronic F127 micelles are widely studied for drug delivery.
- Thermosensitive materials offer controlled release capabilities.
- Gold nanoparticles possess unique optical and catalytic properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop shell cross-linked Pluronic micelles using gold nanoparticles.
- To investigate the thermosensitive swelling/shrinking behavior of these hybrid micelles.
- To explore their potential in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Main Methods:
- Thiol-functionalization of Pluronic F127.
- Self-assembly of Pluronic micelles in aqueous solution.
- Cross-linking of thiol groups with gold nanoparticles.
- Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy for characterization.
- Pyrene solubilization technique to determine critical micelle temperature.
Main Results:
- Successfully prepared shell cross-linked gold-Pluronic micelles.
- Demonstrated reversible thermosensitive swelling/shrinking behavior.
- Hydrodynamic diameter decreased from 157.1 nm at 15°C to 53.4 nm at 37°C.
- Confirmed gold nanoparticle clustering on the micelle surface via TEM.
- Attributed behavior to hydrophobic interactions of Pluronic chains.
Conclusions:
- Novel organic/inorganic hybrid micelles were synthesized.
- The thermosensitive behavior is tunable and reversible.
- These gold-Pluronic micelles show promise for advanced biomedical applications.
