Issue 40, 2015

New biomaterials from renewable resources – amphiphilic block copolymers from δ-decalactone

Abstract

The synthesis of polymers for biomedical applications via environmentally benign routes and with sustainable feedstocks is an area of intense interest. Here we describe the synthesis, characterisation and drug carrier potential of novel polymeric materials obtained from a non-toxic, low cost and easily accessible renewable monomer, δ-decalactone. A range of different polymers and copolymers of δ-decalactone was synthesised under mild reaction conditions using organic and enzymatic catalysts. Amphiphilic block copolymers of δ-decalactone with poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) and terpolymers with poly(pentadecalactone) were shown to self-assemble into micelles and a hydrophobic dye (Nile Red) was incorporated inside the micellar cores via a nanoprecipitation method. The encapsulation properties of the polymeric micelles were explored using Amphotericin B (AmpB) as a model drug. A comparative loading study of AmpB in PEG-b-poly(δ-decalactone) and in PEG-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) micelles demonstrated a higher loading of AmpB in the δ-decalactone co-polymer. In vitro release studies of AmpB from the polymer micelles demonstrated sustained release of AmpB for up to 8 days. A preliminary hydrolytic degradation and cytotoxicity study indicated that the block co-polymer micelles are biodegradable and exhibit low toxicity. These data suggest that the δ-decalactone copolymers are of promise for further development towards biomedical applications.

Graphical abstract: New biomaterials from renewable resources – amphiphilic block copolymers from δ-decalactone

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 Jul 2015
Accepted
27 Aug 2015
First published
28 Aug 2015
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Polym. Chem., 2015,6, 7196-7210

Author version available

New biomaterials from renewable resources – amphiphilic block copolymers from δ-decalactone

K. K. Bansal, D. Kakde, L. Purdie, D. J. Irvine, S. M. Howdle, G. Mantovani and C. Alexander, Polym. Chem., 2015, 6, 7196 DOI: 10.1039/C5PY01203A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements