In principle, combining biocompatible polymers with appropriate pH-responsive polymers enables the effective delivery of therapeutic agents within cells without affecting their metabolic activity.  Herein we explore the synthesis of biocompatible water-soluble block copolymers based on the pH-sensitive monomer, 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DPA), by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization both in aqueous solution under physiological conditions (pH 7-8, 40 �C) and also in ethanol at 70 �C.  Various monomers were evaluated for the biocompatible block, including 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), glycerol monomethacrylate (GMA) or monomethoxy-capped oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate (OEGMA).  Each of these PMPC-PDPA, PGMA-PDPA and POEGMA-PDPA diblock copolymers undergo self-assembly to form pH-responsive vesicles either during in situ DPA polymerization or by a pH switch protocol.  For the in situ route, both individual block lengths and the total solids concentration were explored.  These diblock copolymer vesicles potentially allow the in situ encapsulation of biologically important molecules such as nucleic acids or proteins.

pH-responsive block copolymer vesicles for potential biomedical applications

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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