Phthalocyanine photosensitizer in polyethylene glycol-block-poly(lactide-co-benzyl glycidyl ether) nanocarriers : probing the contribution of aromatic donor-acceptor interactions in polymeric nanospheres.

Abstract
For best photosensitizer activity phthalocyanine dyes used in photodynamic therapy should be molecularly dispersed. Polyethylene glycol-block-polylactide derivatives presenting benzyl side-groups were synthesized to encapsulate a highly lipophilic phthalocyanine dye (AlClPc) and evaluate the effect of π-π interactions on the nanocarrier colloidal stability and dye dispersion. Copolymers with 0, 1, 2 and 6 mol% of benzyl glycidyl ether (BGE) were obtained via polyethylene glycol initiated ring-opening copolymerization of D,L-lactide with BGE. The block copolymers formed stable, monodisperse nanospheres with low in vitro cytotoxicity. AlClPc loading increased the nanosphere size and affected their colloidal stability. The photo-physical properties of the encapsulated dye, studied in batch and after separation by field flow fractionation, demonstrated the superiority of plain PEG-PLA over BGE-containing copolymers in maintaining the dye in its monomeric (non-aggregated) form in aqueous suspension. High dye encapsulation and sustained dye release suggest that these nanocarriers are good candidates for photodynamic therapy.
Description
Keywords
Drug nanocarrier, Biodegradable polymer, Amphiphilic block copolym, Field flow fractionation
Citation
LANA, G. N. E. P. et al. Phthalocyanine photosensitizer in polyethylene glycol-block-poly(lactide-co-benzyl glycidyl ether) nanocarriers : probing the contribution of aromatic donor-acceptor interactions in polymeric nanospheres. Materials Science and Engineering: C, v. 94, p. 220-233, jan. 2019. Disponível em: <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928493118307690>. Acesso em: 7 mar. 2019.