PH-Sensitive micelles of adamantane-based random copolymer

Abstract

pH-Sensitive adamantane-based random copolymer (Ad-P(EMA-co-MAA)4) was synthesized by electron transfer atom radical polymerization (ARGET ATRP). In aqueous solution, the copolymer could self-assembled into micelles (Dh = 146 nm). The pH-sensitiveness of the micelles was confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro drug release behavior of the paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded micelles suggested that the rate of PTX release could be influenced by the pH values of environment. The cytotoxicity assay indicated the low cytotoxicity of the blank micelles and significant drug efficacy of the PTX-loaded micelles. Thus, the as-made pH-sensitive micelles chould be used as nano-carriers for biomedical applications.