Conventionally used chemotherapeutic agents often suffer with poor water-solubility. As a consequence many suffer from poor bioavailability or ability to be formulated, thus limiting their overall therapeutic effect. To compensate, high and frequent dosing may be needed with the potential to expose patients to greater levels of cytotoxicity and potentially leading to poor control of clinical outcomes. One materials strategy to overcome these issues is to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs within polymeric nanocarriers. Here, we present a nanocarrier synthesis platform utilising co-nanoprecipitation of branched vinyl polymers with varying amphiphilic A-B block co-polymers. The internal core characteristics of the particles can be varied by changing the monomer composition, the degree of polymerisation and branching of the branched vinyl polymer, whilst variation of A-B block co-polymer chemistry allows control of nanoparticle stability.  These variables affect host-encapsulation and subsequent loading within the polymeric nanoparticle. The current fundamental study, using a variety of different methacrylate branched polymers, combined with polyethylene glycol methacrylate block co-polymers, with encapsulation of a dye molecule has shown the impact of the different nanoparticle building blocks.<br/><br/>

Co-nanoprecipitation of branched vinyl polymers and block co-polymers for encapsulation and delivery of poorly water soluble molecules

256th National Meeting (2018)

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