(44a) PLGA-Peg-Based pH Sensitive Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery

PLGA-PEG-Based pH Sensitive Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery

 Zilan Zhou and Joo-Youp Lee

Chemical Engineering Program, School of Energy, Environmental, Biological, and Medical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0012

Histidine-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-azide triblock copolymers (His-PLGA-PEG-N₃) were prepared for the development of biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles with a controlled drug release feature to be used for cancer therapeutics.  This triblock copolymer contains two features: an imidazole ring in the histidine part can be protonated or deprotonated which allows for pH sensitivity, and an azide group at the other end can be coupled with an antibody through linker conjugation.  This nanoparticle system is expected to have two features of targeted drug delivery and controlled drug release.  ¹H-NMR was used to characterize the synthesized polymer and confirm the conjugations between these components.  Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to measure the nanoparticle sizes and the results show  size changes in the nanoparticles by responding to pH.  Paclitaxel was employed as a model anticancer drug.  An In vitro drug release study results for drug release kinetics will be presented when pH changes from 7 to acidic pH.