P(HPMA)-block-P(LA) copolymers in paclitaxel formulations: Polylactide stereochemistry controls micellization, cellular uptake kinetics, intracellular localization and drug efficiency

In order to explore the influence of polymer microstructure and stereochemistry in biological settings, the synthesis, micellization, cellular fate and the use in paclitaxel formulations of poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide)-block-poly(L-lactide) (P(HPMA)-block-P(LLA)) and poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide)-block-poly(DL-lactide) block copolymers (P(HPMA)-block-P(DLLA)) were studied. To this end, P(HPMA)-block-P(lactide) block copolymers and their fluorescently labeled analogues were synthesized. The polymers exhibited molecular weights M-n around 20,000 g/mol with dispersities (D=M-w/M-n) below 1.3. In addition, the solution conformation of this new type of partially degradable…

Synthesis, Characterization and Preliminary Biological Evaluation of P(HPMA)-b-P(LLA) Copolymers: A New Type of Functional Biocompatible Block Copolymer

We describe a synthetic pathway to functional P(HPMA)-b-P(LLA) block copolymers. The synthesis relies on a combination of ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide, conversion into a chain transfer agent (CTA) for the RAFT polymerization of pentafluorophenyl methacrylate. A series of block copolymers was prepared that exhibited molecular weights $\overline M _{\rm n}$ ranging from 7 600 to 34 300 g · mol(-1) , with moderate PDI between 1.3 and 1.45. These reactive precursor polymers have been transformed into biocompatible P(HPMA)-b-P(LLA) copolymers and their fluorescently labeled derivatives by facile replacement of the pentafluorophenyl groups. The fluorescence label attached to this new …

Macromol. Rapid Commun. 17/2010

Synthesis and In Vitro Evaluation of Defined HPMA Folate Conjugates: Influence of Aggregation on Folate Receptor (FR) Mediated Cellular Uptake

In this article we report the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of well-defined, folate functionalized and fluorescently labeled polymers based on the clinically approved N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide (HPMA). The polymers were prepared applying the RAFT polymerization method as well as the reactive ester approach. The molecular weights of the polymers synthesized were around 15 and 30 kDa. The total content of conjugated folate varied from 0, 5, and 10 mol %. The cellular uptake of these polymers was investigated in the folate receptor (FR)-positive human nasopharyngeal epidermal carcinoma (KB-3-1) and FR-negative human lung epithelial carcinoma (A549) cancer cell lines. In FR-positive…