Degradable Spirocyclic Polyacetal-Based Core-Amphiphilic Assemblies for Encapsulation and Release of Hydrophobic Cargo.

ABSTRACT: Polymeric nanomaterials that degrade in acidic environments have gained considerable attention in nanomedicine for intracellular drug delivery and cancer therapy. Among various acid-degradable linkages, spirocyclic acetals have rarely been used to fabricate such vehicles. In addition to acid sensitivity, they benefit from conformational rigidity that is otherwise not attainable by their non-spirocyclic analogs. Herein, amphiphilic spirocyclic polyacetals are synthesized by Cu-catalyzed alkyne-azide "click" polymerization. Unlike conventional block copolymers, which often form core-shell structures, these polymers self-assemble to form core amphiphilic assemblies capable of encapsulating Nile red as a hydrophobic model drug. In vitro experiments show that while release from these materials

SUBMITTER: Andrade-Gagnon B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7826923 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature