Chemotherapy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Chemotherapy, including details on cancer treatment, side effects, drugs.

Hydrotropic polymer micelle system for delivery of paclitaxel.

Huh KM, Lee SC, Cho YW, Lee J, Jeong JH, Park K

Departments of Pharmaceutics and Biomedical Engineering, School of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, Room G22, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

Hydrotropic polymer micelle system has been developed for delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs such as paclitaxel. Hydrotropic polymers based on N,N-diethylnicotinamide were synthesized and used as a hydrophobic block for constructing amphiphilic block copolymers. The hydrotropic block copolymers self-assembled to form micelles in aqueous media. The size of the prepared polymer micelles was in the range of 30-50 nm, and increased to 100-120 nm after paclitaxel loading. The critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of the block copolymers were higher by an order of magnitude than those of other typical polymer micelles, due to less hydrophobicity of the hydrotropic blocks. The drug loading capacity and physical stability of the polymer micelles were characterized and compared with those of other polymer micelles. The hydrotropic polymer micelles containing hydrotrope-rich cores showed not only higher loading capacity but also enhanced physical stability in aqueous media. They could be redissolved in aqueous media by simple vortexing and/or a mild heating. The hydrotropic polymer micelles provide an alternative approach for formulation of poorly soluble drugs.

Published 13 December 2004 in J Control Release, 101(1): 59-68.
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