ACRYLATION OF PCL-PEO DIBLOCK COPOLYMERS TO SLOW THE PASSIVE RELEASE OF DOXORUBICIN FROM SELF- ASSEMBLED POLYMERSOMES

3In this study, it was shown that at physiological pH, DOX is initially released by passive diffusion across the polymersome membrane, followed by a faster release as the membrane hydrolyzed. At endosomal pH, however, release was completely mediated by membrane hydrolysis. To minimize the systemic release of a drug from polymersomes for cancer therapies, we sought to decrease the passive diffusion of DOX by altering the membrane structure. Specifically, the terminal hydroxyl endgroup of the PCL block of the polymer was acrylated prior to polymersome formation. With the addition of an initiator and light source, this acrylate undergoes a free-radical polymerization (confirmed with 1 H NMR) and can