In-vitro biocompatibility of folate-decorated star-shaped copolymeric micelle for targeted drug delivery

Abstract

The drug delivery systems using conventional nanocarriers are associated with the systemic toxicity and poor bioavailability of drug due to lack of its specificity. The objective of this study is to overcome these limitations by introduction of folic targeting ligand in drug delivery system to deliver drug within tumor cells via passive and active-mediated endocytosis. Hence, the folate decorated-micelles based on the star-shape FOL-PEG-PCL copolymer were prepared for targeting to the folate receptor overexpressing in human breast cancer cells. The structure was characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR and DSC. The self assembly of amphiphilic copolymer was investigated. The particle size of the micelle was 110.5 nm. The safety evaluation of copolymeric micelle including the in vitro nitric oxide production and hemolytic tests. The results obtained from macrophage response and hemolysis test suggest that the micelle prepared in this study had moderate in vitro toxicity and could be safely used for intravenous injection in animal. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.