Preparation and evaluation of a linoleic-acid-modified amphiphilic polypeptide copolymer as a carrier for controlled drug release

In the present study, we describe the synthesis, characterization and self-assembly of a novel amphiphilic linoleic acid (LA)-modified polypeptide copolymer and its drug release behavior in vitro as well. Initially, an amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymer comprising polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) as a central hydrophobic block and poly(L-lysine)s as outer hydrophilic blocks was prepared via the ring-opening polymerization of ε-benzyloxycarbonyl-L- lysine N-carboxyanhydride with a distal amine-terminated PTHF as a macroinitiator, followed by the removal of the protecting group. The resulting triblock copolymer was then reacted with linoleic acid in the presence of N-ethyl-N′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC·HCl)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (HOSu) to give rise to a target LA-modified polypeptide copolymer. It was found to self-assemble into nanoparticles in water. Its critical aggregation concentration was assessed by fluorescence measurement with N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine employed as a molecular probe. The particle sizes of the aggregates were determined by dynamic light scattering, and the aggregate morphologies were evidenced by transmission electron microscopy measurements. Finally, the drug-loading capacity and release behavior in vitro were investigated by using doxorubicin as a model drug.