Biostable Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(methacrylic acid) Micelles forpH-triggered Release of Doxorubicin

Abstract

pH-sensitive cross-linked polymeric micelles were synthesized by using block ionomer complexes of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(methacrylic acid) (PEO-b-PMA) with calcium ions as micellar templates. An anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX) was conjugated on the cross-linked ionic cores of micelles via acid-labile hydrozone bonds. The resulting DOX-conjugated, pH-sensitive micelles are stable at physiological conditions, whereas the release of DOX was significantly increased at the acidic pH. Such micelles were internalized to lysosomes, and acidic pH in lysosomes triggers the release of DOX upon internalization in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The released DOX entered the cell nucleus and eventually killed cancer cells. Therefore, these data demonstrate that the pH-sensitive micelles could be a promising nanocarrier for delivery of anticancer drug, DOX.