Interactions between an anticancer drug and polymeric micelles based on biodegradable polyesters

Interactions between the anticancer drug quercetin and biodegradable polyesters within micelles were investigated by DSC, WAXD, and UV analyses. For micelles based on poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether-block-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (MPEG-PCL), DSC analysis indicated that the interactions were between the hydrophobic core and the drug within the micelle. For micelles based on poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether-block-poly(L-lactide) (MPEG-PLLA), the interactions were between the hydrophobic core and the drug and between hydrophilic segments and the drug. WAXD results indicated that no crystalline phase of the drug was found in either of the micelle types. Based on the DSC and WAXD results, two probable micelle structures were proposed. The UV spectra revealed the presence of hydrogen bonding as the main interaction between the drug and the polyesters. In vitro studies demonstrated that quercetin release from micelles was sustained and was affected by the polymer-drug interaction.