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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Injectable Supramolecular Polymer-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Cell and Drug Delivery Applications
Published on: February 7, 2021
Application of polyhydroxyalkanoates nanoparticles as intracellular sustained drug-release vectors
Yu-Cui Xiong1, Yong-Chao Yao, Xiao-Yong Zhan
1Multidisciplinary Research Center, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, Guangdong, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), co-polyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (PHBHHx), and polylactic acid (PLA) were used to prepare nanoparticles with average sizes of 160, 250 and 150 nm, respectively. A lipid-soluble colorant, rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RBITC), was employed to study drug-release behaviors from these nanoparticles. A high RBITC drug-loading efficiency of over 75% was achieved with all PHA nanoparticles prepared. Macrophage endocytosis led to an intracellular RBITC drug sustained release over a period of at least 20 days for PHB and PHBHHx nanoparticles, while PLA nanoparticles and free drug lasted only 15 days and a week, respectively. Polymer properties and particle sizes showed little effect on drug-release behavior. This study showed for the first time that PHB and PHBHHx can be used effectively to achieve intracellular controlled drug releases.
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