Functionalized Star Polymer Nanoparticles for Controlled Drug Delivery

描述（由申请人提供）：该SBIR I期项目将开发新型聚合物作为药物递送载体用于药理学应用。该载体是一种高度结构化的共聚物，可在水介质中与药物形成胶束状结构。聚合物/药物胶束含有特别定制的相互作用功能，用于药物包封和缓释。这种类型的分子结构的特征将使包封的药物的早期降解最小化，并且聚合物载体是完全可生物降解的。聚合物/药物胶束将表现出均匀的尺寸和药物负载水平，以及可预测的、良好控制的药物释放速率。 I期计划的总体目标是开发基于所提出的用于药理学应用的共聚物的药物递送系统，并证明作为药物递送载体的增强的药物包封能力和生物降解性。具体的技术目标是：1）合成和表征具有代表性的聚合物药物载体; 2）证明特殊药物的包封和药物缓释速率; 3）测定聚合物的生物相容性。 药物输送的潜在市场非常重要。这些药物中的许多具有稳定性问题和不期望的副作用。利用这种提出的新的药物递送系统，以较低剂量更有效的药物递送是可能的。 这将减少不良副作用，并使有效的药物治疗疾病的治疗。 公共卫生相关性：该SBIR I期项目将开发用于抗癌治疗等药理学应用的聚合物药物递送载体。聚合物/药物药物将使包封的药物的早期降解最小化，并减少药物过早释放的有害副作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This SBIR Phase I project will develop novel polymers as a drug delivery carrier for pharmacological applications. The carrier is a highly-structured copolymer that can form micelle-like structures with the drug in aqueous media. The polymer/drug micelle contains specially tailored interaction functionalities for drug encapsulation and slow release. The features of this type of molecular structure will minimize early degradation of the encapsulated drug and the polymer carriers are fully diodegradable. The polymer/drug micelles will exhibit uniform size and drug loading levels, and a predictable, well-controlled drug release rate. The overall objective in the Phase I program is to develop a drug delivery system based on the proposed copolymer for pharmacological applications, and to demonstrate the enhanced drug encapsulation capability and biodegradbility as a drug delivery carrier. The specific technical aims are: 1) to synthesize and characterize represenative polymer drug carriers; 2) to demonstrate the encapsulation of special drugs and slow drug release rate; and 3) to determine the polymer's biocompatibility. Potential markets for drug delivery are highly significant. Many of these drugs have stability problems and undesirable side effects. With this proposed new drug delivery system, more efficient drug delivery with lower dosage is possible. This will reduce untoward side effects and enable efficient drug therapy for disease treatment. Public Health Relevance: This SBIR Phase I project will develop polymer drug delivery carrier for pharmacological applications such as anticancer treatment. The polymer/drug medication will minimize early degradation of the encapsulated drug and decrease harmful side-effects from premature drug release.