Therapeutic nanoparticles from novel multiblock engineered polyesterurethanes

A novel biodegradable material belonging to the class of polyester-urethanes (PURs), based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) blocks, was proposed as matrix-forming material for the preparation of nanoparticles by the solvent displacement method. This method has been widely applied to prepare nanoparticles with reproducible, small size with commercially available polyesters or polyester–polyether copolymers. These carriers often displayed fast and poorly controllable release rates. In response to these problems we proposed the insertion of polyesters into a more complex microstructure, such as that of polyurethanes, characterized by the alternation of hard and soft segments, in order to modulate and control the degradation rate and release profiles. PCL-based PUR (C-BC2000) was synthesized according to a two step synthesis procedure. Commercial PCL and poly(d, l lactide) (PLA) were used as controls; and paclitaxel, a potent anti-neoplastic drug, was encapsulated inside all carriers. Carriers prepared with the new material showed no intrinsic cytotoxicity (A-431 cells), with similar size in the range 211–226 nm and surface charge as the commercial controls. Moreover, C-BC2000 nanoparticles exhibited a slightly faster degradation rate, a much higher encapsulation efficiency (89 % against 24 % and 18 % for PLA and PCL, respectively) and a longer and more controlled release profile. This study highlighted the possibility to successfully employ biodegradable polyurethanes to prepare particles for controlled drug delivery, suggesting further and extensive investigation on the introduction of different PUR formulations in this field.