• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2007

Luminescent CdSe/ZnS QDs, with emission in the red region of the spectrum, were synthesized and encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactide) diblock copolymer micelles, to prepare water-soluble, bio-compatible QD micelles. PEG-PLA diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of D,L-lactide, in the presence of methoxy PEG as a macro initiator. QDs were encapsulated with PEG-PLA polymers using a solid dispersion method in chloroform. The resultant polymer micelles, with encapsulated QDs, were characterized using various analytical techniques, such as UV- Vis measurement, light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic forced microscopy (AFM). The polymer micelles, with encapsulated QDs, were spherical and showed diameters in the range of 20-150 nm. The encapsulated QDs were highly luminescent, and have high potential for applications in biomedical imaging and detection.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2008

We synthesized PEG-PLA (or PLGA) amphiphilic di-block copolymers, which consist of PEG as biocompatible and hydrophilic block and PLA (or PLGA) as biodegradable and hydrophobic block, by ring opening polymerization of LA in the presence of methoxy PEG as a macroinitiator. The compositions and the molecular weights of the copolymers were controlled by changing the feed ratio of LA (and GA) to PEG initiator. The di-block copolymers could self-assemble in aqueous media to form micellar structure. A hydrophobic model drug, pioglitazone, was loaded into the polymer micelle using solid dispersion and dialysis methods, and the drug-loaded micelles were characterized by AFM, DLS and HPLC measurements. The drug loading capacity and in vitro release studies were performed and evaluated under various conditions. These results indicated that the amphiphilic di-block copolymers of PEG-PLA (or PLGA) could solubilize pioglitazone by solid dispersion method and the drug release was modulated according to micellar chemical compositions.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.274-281
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• 2010

In this study, PEG-PLA(or PLGA) amphiphilic di-block copolymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of D,L-lactide(or glycolide) and applied to polymeric micelle system for solubilization of a rosiglitazone as diabetes drug. The drug could be efficiently loaded into the polymer micelle by solid dispersion technique, and the drug-loaded micelles were characterized and evaluated as a drug delivery carrier by fluorescence spectrometer, DSC, and DLS measurements. The colloidal stability of drug loaded micelles in aqueous media could be enhanced by addition of 2-hydroxy-N-picolylnitinamide as a hydrotropic agent. The polymer micelles also showed biocompatible and nontoxic properties in vitro cell viability using MTT assay, and the drug loaded micelles were observed to be more effective than free drug for decreasing glucose in blood of rats.