Polyaspartamide-graft-polymethacrylate nanoparticles for doxorubicin delivery

A new PHEA-IB-PMANa(+) copolymer has been synthesized and its pH-induced self-assembly has been investigated in an aqueous medium. PHEA-IB-PMANa+ formed nanoparticles with diameters from 25 to 50nm upon protonation of the carboxylic acid moieties dislocated along the grafted polymethacrylate sodium salt side chains. The physico-chemical characterization of the nanoparticles was performed using light scattering, zeta-potential measurements, SEM, and AFM. Doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles were prepared and drug release profiles were evaluated under conditions mimicking physiological media. A biological characterization was carried out by testing the cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells, and cellular uptake on mouse monocyte macrophage (J774 A.1) and Caco-2 cells