Interfacial micellar phase transfer using amphiphilic invertible polymers

Abstract

Micelles formed from new amphiphilic invertible polymers (AIPs) can sequester hydrophobic molecules in water and transfer their payload to a non-polar phase. The amount of material transferred depends primarily on micellar loading capacity. Increasing the lipophilicity of the AIP composition increases the amount of material transferred. The obtained data indicate that AIPs have the potential to serve as an alternative for administration of polymer-based nanopharmaceuticals. Invertible polymeric micelles can potentially facilitate controlled release of poorly water-soluble agents incorporated within the micellar interior when compared to release by thermodynamically stable conventional (non-invertible) micelles.