Micelles based on biodegradable poly(L-glutamic acid)-b-polylactide with paramagnetic Gd ions chelated to the shell layer as a potential nanoscale MRI-visible delivery system.

ABSTRACT: There is much interest in the development of a nanoscale drug delivery system with MRI visibility to optimize the delivery efficiency and therapeutic efficacy under image guidance. Here we report on the successful fabrication of nanoscale micelles based on biodegradable poly( L-glutamic acid)- b-polylactide (PG- b-PLA) block copolymer with paramagnetic Gd3+ ions chelated to their shell. PG- b-PLA was synthesized by sequential polymerization reactions: anionic polymerization of L-lactide followed by ring-opening polymerization of benzyl glutamate N-carboxylic anhydride. The metal chelator p-aminobenzyldiethylenetriaminepenta(acetic acid) (DTPA) was readily conjugated to the side chain carboxylic acids of poly( L-glutamic acid). The resulting copolymer formed spherical micelles in aqueous so

SUBMITTER: Zhang G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2547341 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature