Co-Delivery of Imiquimod and Plasmid DNA via an Amphiphilic pH-Responsive Star Polymer that Forms Unimolecular Micelles in Water.

ABSTRACT: Dual functional unimolecular micelles based on a pH-responsive amphiphilic star polymer β-CD-(PLA-b-PDMAEMA-b-PEtOxMA)₂₁ have been developed for the co-delivery of imiquimod and plasmid DNA to dendritic cells. The star polymer with well-defined triblock arms was synthesized by combining activator regenerated by electron-transfer atom-transfer radical polymerization with ring-opening polymerization. Dissipative particle dynamics simulation showed that core-mesophere-shell-type unimolecular micelles could be formed. Imiquimod-loaded micelles had a drug loading of 1.6 wt % and a larger average size (28 nm) than blank micelles (19 nm). The release of imiquimod in vitro was accelerated at the mildly acidic endolysosomal pH (5.0) in comparison to physiologic pH (7.4). Co

SUBMITTER: Lin W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6431966 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature