Preparation, characterization and drug release behavior of sensitive poly(amino acid)s nanomicelles

A series of poly(amino acid)s materials with amphiphilic properties were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. Amphiphilic polymers are used to prepare drug-carrying nanomicelles. The polylysine part serves as a hydrophilic chain segment and also serves as a targeted binding site for model drugs of doxorubicin (DOX). The polyphenylalanine part acts as a hydrophobic chain segment to induce self-assembly effect of macromolecules, which promotes the formation of nanomicelles. The morphology and particle size of drug-loaded nanomicelles were measured and proved to meet the general requirements of drug sustained release. By co-culture with L929 cells and HeLa cells, the nontoxicity of the polymer material and the inhibition of the proliferation of cancer cells by the nanomicelles were demonstrated. In addition, nanomicelles displayed significantly pH sensitive and could achieve targeted release in a specific environment. Relevant drug release kinetics studies were also analyzed simultaneously.