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Updated: May 11, 2026
Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions
Published on: October 10, 2016
Preclinical evaluation of radiosensitizing activity of Pluronic block copolymers
Reshani H Perera1, Ravi Patel, Hanping Wu
1Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland, Ohio , USA.
Purpose:
Pluronic block copolymers are non-ionic surfactants with demonstrated sensitizing activity in chemotherapy and hyperthermia in various tumor cell lines. In the current study we investigated the potential activity of Pluronic as a radiosensitizing agent.
Materials And Methods:
As a possible mechanism, the effect of Pluronic on Hsp70 and Hsp90 was examined. Gli36 human glioma cells were treated with radiation alone as well as with a combination treatment of Pluronic and radiation.
Results:
Clonogenic cell survival assays show that Pluronic has an elevated effect on radiosensitization (50% high, p < 0.01), even with radiation doses as low as 2 Gy. The Hsp90 level was reduced 24 h after the combined treatment in both in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, Hsp70 levels were also decreased 24 h post treatment. When Gli36 cells were exposed to Pluronic before and during irradiation, DNA DSB: double-strand breaks repair was reduced, and elevated apoptosis was also seen in tumor xenografts.
Conclusion:
Data suggest the potential use of L10 as a radiosensitizer. While the mechanism of sensitization requires additional investigation, the presented results indicate that the effect may be due, in part, to a decrease in Hsp90 and 70 levels and increased DNA damage.
