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A Facile and Efficient Approach for the Production of Reversible Disulfide Cross-linked Micelles
Published on: December 23, 2016
Positively Charged Dendron Micelles Display Negligible Cellular Interactions
Ryan M Pearson1, Niladri Patra, Hao-Jui Hsu
1Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612.
ACS Macro Letters
|January 29, 2013
Summary
PEGylated dendron-based copolymers self-assembled into micelles with low cellular interaction, regardless of surface charge. This unexpected finding suggests potential for drug delivery platforms due to controlled properties.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Dendrimers and dendron-based copolymers are investigated for drug delivery.
- Surface charge significantly influences nanoparticle-cell interactions.
- Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)ylation is used to modify nanoparticle properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize PEGylated dendron-based copolymers (PDCs) with varying end-group functionalities.
- To investigate the self-assembly of PDCs into dendron micelles.
- To evaluate the effect of terminal surface charges on micelle size, morphology, and cellular interactions.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of PDCs with amine, carboxyl, and acetyl end-groups.
- Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) for size analysis.
- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for morphology.
- Confocal Microscopy and Flow Cytometry for cellular interaction studies.
- Atomistic Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations.
Main Results:
- Dendron micelles showed consistent sizes (20-60 nm) and spherical morphology.
- All tested dendron micelles exhibited low, charge-independent cellular interactions.
- Amine-terminated dendron micelles showed unexpectedly low interaction, contrary to known dendrimer behavior.
- MD simulations indicated charge sequestration via hydrogen bonding between PEG backbones and terminal groups.
Conclusions:
- PEGylated dendron-based copolymers form uniform micelles with minimal end-group charge effects.
- Hydrogen bonding within PDCs sequesters terminal charges, reducing non-specific cellular interactions.
- These dendron micelles represent a promising platform for drug delivery due to their controlled characteristics.
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