Amphiphilic block copolymers feature the intrinsic capability to self-assemble into well-defined micellar structures.1�3 The formation of block copolymer micelles in polar solvents with core-shell-type or patchy architectures with a hydrophobic core segregated from its hydrophilic exterior, allows for the selective incorporation of hydrophobic molecules while the outer polar polymers chains shield the payload from the polar environment. Block copolymer micelles are excellent drug delivery systems due to their adjustable drug-loading capacity and their unique distribution characteristics in the body.4 Furthermore block copolymer have a size in the range of several tens of nanometers, causing an accumulation of the micelles in tumor tissue by the �enhanced permeation and retention� (EPR) effect.5A promising technique in cancer treatment is the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT).6In this technique, a photosensitizer is used to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon light irradiation. ROS are extremely toxic and can engender cell death.In order to study the catch and release of novel amphiphilic micelles based on different methacrylate monomers, poly(methyl methacrylate-b-dimethylamino methacrylate) (PMMA-b-PDMAEMA) block copolymers with a narrow molecular weight distribution were synthesized by using sequential anionic polymerization protocols. These block copolymers form micelles in water as confirmed by TEM and DLS measurements. Our potential photosensitizer, a ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex, was encapsulated in the micelles and the amount quantified by UV/Vis and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).(1) Riess, G. Prog. Polym. Sci. 2003  , 28, 1107�1170.(2) Tonhauser, C.; Mazurowski, M.; Rehahn, M.; Gallei, M.; Frey, H. Macromolecules 2012  , 45, 3409�3418.(3) Morsbach, J.; Natalello, A.; Elbert, J.; Winzen, S.; Kroeger, A.; Frey, H.; Gallei, M. Organometallics 2013  , 32, 6033�6039.(4) Kwon, G. S.; Okano, T. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 1996  , 21, 107�116.(5) Matsumura, Y.; Maeda, H. Cancer Res. 1986  , 46, 6387�6392.(6) Dolmans, D. E. J. G. J.; Fukumura, D.; Jain, R. K. Nat. Rev. Cancer 2003  , 3, 380�387.

Catch and release of a metallic payload in amphiphilic block copolymer micelles

248th National Meeting (2014)

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