1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA;2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA;3. Department of Materials, University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
Abstract:
Thermosensitive PNVCL‐b‐PEG block copolymer coupled with folic acid was prepared as an anti‐cancer drug carrier. This polymer self‐assembled into stable micelles in aqueous solutions at above 33 °C. At 37 °C, the release profile of PNVCL‐b‐PEG‐FA micelles showed a slower and more controlled release of the entrapped 5‐FU than that at 25 °C. The blank and 5‐FU‐loaded PNVCL‐b‐PEG‐FA micelles did not induce remarkable cytotoxicity against the EA.hy 926 human endothelial cell line; however, 5‐FU‐loaded PNVCL‐b‐PEG‐FA micelles showed a cytotoxicity effect against 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma cells due to the availability of loaded anti‐cancer drugs delivered to the inside of the cancer cells by the folate‐receptor‐mediated endocytosis process.
