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Photo-responsive polymer micelles from o-nitrobenzyl ester-based amphiphilic block copolymers synthesized by mechanochemical solid-state copolymerization

Polymer Journal volume 52, pages 1375–1385 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Polymer micelles with a tunable drug release would be suitable for the concept of drug delivery system. We constructed photo-responsive polymer micelles from amphiphilic block copolymers. The polymer micelles were synthesized by mechanochemical solid-state copolymerization of poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (PHPMA) and 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl methacrylate as a photosensitive moiety. The above mechanochemical solid-state copolymerization was performed by vibratory-ball milling at 30 Hz in a nitrogen atmosphere with the use of an agate vessel and an agate ball to yield amphiphilic block copolymers (PHPMA-b-PDNMA). Spherical polymer micelles were formed by the self-assembly of PHPMA-b-PDNMA. The diameter of the PHPMA-b-PDNMA micelles was in the range of 130-200 nm. The PHPMA-b-PDNMA micelles loaded with the antitumor drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) showed photo irradiation induced time-dependent release of 5-FU with an associated decrease of micellar size. The drug release profile of the PHPMA-b-PDNMA micelles followed a clear sigmoid curve. Our approach provides a controlled drug release system through the use of photo-responsive polymer micelles, accompanied by the gradual decrease of micellar size.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the OGAWA Science and Technology Foundation. We also give thanks to Springer Nature Author Services for editing a draft of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 1-25-4, Daigaku-nishi, Gifu, 501-1196, Japan

    Naoki Doi, Ryo Ikegami, Masayuki Kuzuya & Shin-ichi Kondo

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Matsuyama University, 4-2 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8578, Japan

    Yukinori Yamauchi

  3. Department of Health and Welfare, Faculty of Human Welfare, Chubu Gakuin University, 2-1 Kirigaoka, Seki, Gifu, 501-3993, Japan

    Masayuki Kuzuya

  4. Faculty of Pharmacy, Gifu University of Medical Science, 4-3-3 Nijigaoka, Kani, Gifu, 509-0293, Japan

    Yasushi Sasai

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Correspondence to Shin-ichi Kondo.

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Doi, N., Yamauchi, Y., Ikegami, R. et al. Photo-responsive polymer micelles from o-nitrobenzyl ester-based amphiphilic block copolymers synthesized by mechanochemical solid-state copolymerization. Polym J 52, 1375–1385 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-020-0387-9

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