Abstract
Poly(ethylene imine)/(phenylthio) acetic acid (PEI/PTA) ion pair whose the molar ratio of amino to carboxyl group ratio was 3/7 exhibited its upper critical solution temperature (UCST) around body temperature (37 ℃) at pH 7.0. The UCST decreased with increasing H2O2 concentration used to treat the ion pair (0 to 20 mM). Below the UCST, PEI/PTA ion pair was self-assembled into nanoparticles (IPSAM) possibly because the ion pair was amphiphilic and surface-active. The ion pair decreased in the surface activity and increased in the critical micelle concentration, when the sulfide of PTA was oxidized by H2O2. This could account for why the UCST decreased with increasing H2O2 concentration. IPSAM released its payload (i.e. nile red) in response to oxidation and temperature. Upon oxidation, the ion pair decreased in its UCST and IPSAM underwent dissolution, leading to a promoted release. Upon heating, the temperature increased above UCST, which caused IPSAM to be disassembled and release its payload. Gold nanoparticle (GNP) synthesized in situ was found to be bound to IPSAM. IPSAM bearing GNP exhibited a promoted release of its payload under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Heat generated by GNP would be able to disassemble IPSAM and enhance the release. Doxorubicin loaded in folated IPSAM exhibited a significant in vitro anti-cancer activity against KB cells. It could be effectively internalized into the cells, evidenced by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy. When GNP was included in IPSAM, NIR irradiation led to further increase in the anti-cancer activity.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.