1. Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, P. R. China;2. School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, P. R. China
Abstract:
Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), a fluorescent probe, is coupled to amphiphilic monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (mPEG‐PCL) copolymers. FITC‐labeled mPEG‐PCL copolymers self‐assemble into micelles through the solvent evaporation method. The cellular internalization is examined using fluorescence microscopy on incubation of NIH‐3T3 fibroblasts with micelles or free FITC solution. The effect of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio on the endocytosis mechanisms is evaluated by fluorescence microscopy on culturing of human hepatoblastoma cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, individually, mixed with the micelles holding the same parameters including micelle size, shape, and surface charges.
