Synthesis of poly(lactide-co-glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone)-graft-mannosylated poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers by combination of "clip" and "click" chemistries

Biomacromolecules. 2012 Mar 12;13(3):760-8. doi: 10.1021/bm201690w. Epub 2012 Feb 27.

Abstract

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) is extensively used in pharmaceutical applications, for example, in targeted drug delivery, because of biocompatibility and degradation rate, which is easily tuned by the copolymer composition. Nevertheless, synthesis of sugar-labeled amphiphilic copolymers with a PLGA backbone is quite a challenge because of high sensitivity to hydrolytic degradation. This Article reports on the synthesis of a new amphiphilic copolymer of PLGA grafted by mannosylated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). A novel building block, that is, α-methoxy-ω-alkyne PEO-clip-N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester, was prepared on purpose by photoreaction of a diazirine containing molecular clip. This PEO block was mannosylated by reaction of the NHS ester groups with an aminated sugar, that is, 2-aminoethyl-α-d-mannopyroside. Then, the alkyne ω-end-group of PEO was involved in a copper alkyne- azide coupling (CuAAC) with the pendent azides of the aliphatic copolyester. The targeted mannose-labeled poly(lactide-co-glycolide-co-ε-caprolactone)-graft-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer was accordingly formed. Copolymerization of d,l-lactide and glycolide with α-chloro-ε-caprolactone, followed by substitution of chlorides by azides provided the azido-functional PLGA backbone. Finally, micelles of the amphiphilic mannosylated graft copolymer were prepared in water, and their interaction with Concanavalin A (ConA), a glyco-receptor protein, was studied by quartz crystal microbalance. This study concluded to the prospect of using this novel bioconjugate in targeted drug delivery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemical synthesis*
  • Concanavalin A / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mannose / metabolism*
  • Micelles
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemical synthesis*
  • Quartz / chemistry

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Micelles
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • poly(glycolide-co-lactide-co-caprolactone)
  • Concanavalin A
  • Quartz
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Mannose