A novel PCD/CUR self‐assembly approach for improved curcumin delivery to prostate cancer cells is described. The formation of PCD/CUR was confirmed using FTIR, DSC, TGA, and SEM/TEM, and their stability and solubility under physiological conditions was demonstrated. A mechanism for self‐assembly is proposed. Intracellular uptake of the self‐assemblies was studied by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy. The therapeutic efficacy was determined by cell proliferation and colony formation assays using C4‐2, DU145 and PC3 prostate cancer cells. The results suggest that the PCD/CUR formulation could be a useful system for improving curcumin delivery and its therapeutic efficacy in prostate cancer.
To minimize non‐specific protein adsorption on macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate) and poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) microspheres containing amino and/or carboxyl groups, the microspheres are coated with α,ω‐bis‐carboxy poly(ethylene glycol) and amino‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol‐co‐propylene glycol) or α‐methoxy‐ω‐amino poly(ethylene glycol). Adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA), γ‐globulin, 125I‐BSA, pepsin, and chymotrypsin on neat and PEGylated microspheres is determined by UV–VIS spectroscopy of supernatants and eluates or by measurement of radioactivity in an ionization chamber. Neat and PEGylated microspheres adsorb 0.8–70% and 0.02–44% of protein, respectively.
Poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(2,2,3,3,4,4,4‐heptafluorobutyl methacrylate) was successfully synthesized via ATRP. The chemical composition and structure of the copolymer was characterized by NMR and FT‐IR spectroscopy and molecular weight measurement. Gel permeation chromatography was used to study the molecular weight distribution of the triblock copolymer. The surface properties of the resulting copolymer were investigated. The effects of fluorine content and bulk structure on surface energy were investigated by static water contact angle measurements. Surface composition was studied by XPS.
