Interaction of copolymers of dimethylsiloxane and ethylene oxide with model membranes and cancerous cells

Abstract

Interaction of amphiphilic copolymers and ethylene oxide and dimethylsiloxane with biological membranes is studied. Copolymers are shown to increase the permeability of model membranes. Has been shown that their effect on the permeability of liposomal membranes with respect to dye carboxyfluoresceine correlates with their toxicity. At low nontoxic concentrations, Pluronic L61, a diblock copolymer of dimeth-ylsiloxane and ethylene oxide similar to triblock copolymer of ethylene and propylene oxides, is able to reduce the concentration of chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin by a factor of 30, which is toxic to cancerous cells stable to remedy drugs.