Anthracenyl-Functionalized Block Copolymer Assemblies for Curcumin Loading and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Evaluation

Polymeric carriers can disperse hydrophobic drugs in aqueous media, while fluorescence measurements can provide complementary information about the loaded state. Here, poly(4-vinylpyridine)-block-poly(9-anthracenylmethyl methacrylate) (P4VP-b-PAnMA) was synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization and used to prepare curcumin (CUR)-containing polymeric assemblies. TEM showed approximately spherical particles, with mean diameters of 78.03 nm for blank assemblies and 108.65 nm after CUR loading. The apparent aggregation concentration determined by the pyrene-probe method was 0.052 mg mL–1. At the selected polymer-to-CUR mass ratio of 10:2, the reported drug-loading content and encapsulation efficiency were 13.9% and 81.0%, respectively. At pH 5.0, both blank and CUR-loaded assemblies exhibited smaller measured hydrodynamic diameters and positive zeta potentials relative to pH 7.4. CUR loading produced changes in the absorption, emission, and excitation spectra, providing a qualitative optical response associated with the loaded state. Dialysis measurements showed medium-dependent apparent CUR release. CCK-8 measurements in 4T1 cells showed concentration-dependent cytotoxicity under the tested conditions. The study relates CUR loading to a qualitative fluorescence response in anthracenyl-functionalized polymer assemblies.