Enhanced therapeutic efficacy of clotrimazole by delivery through poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) copolymer-based micelles

Abstract

Amphiphilic block copolymers have been the subject of great scientific interests due to their applications in various fields including nano drug delivery. Three amphiphilic block copolymers based on poly(ε-caprolactone) as a hydrophobic segment and methoxy poly(ethylene oxide) (as a hydrophilic part were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone using MeO-PEO 5K as macroinitiator by varying initial feed ratios. The synthesized polymers were further explored for their drug delivery potential using clotrimazole as model hydrophobic drug. Drug-loaded micelles were characterized for shape, size, drug encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release, and thermal stability using atomic force microscope, zetasizer, UV–visible spectrophotometry, FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Clotrimazole loaded in micelles were also investigated for its antifungal activity through an in vitro assay and scanning electron microscopy. The antifungal activity of drug increased significantly by delivering through polymeric micelles. Current study provides insight into different factors that can be maneuvered to achieve a variety of desired properties of micelles for improved therapeutic efficacy of drugs like clotrimazole. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47769.