Hydrolytically Degradable Polymer Micelles for Anticancer Drug Delivery to Solid Tumors

Abstract

Abstract Various biodegradable micellar polymer drug carriers based on N ‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymers and their conjugates with doxorubicin are synthesized. The conjugates are designed to treat solid tumors and subsequently to allow carrier elimination from the body. All copolymers self‐assemble in aqueous solution into supramolecular structures with highly hydrophobic cholesterol derivatives in the core and doxorubicin located in the hydrophilic shell. The drug is released quickly from the micelles incubated at pH = 5.0 (modelling the endosomes of tumor cells). Slower release of cholesterol derivatives leading to disintegration of the micelles is observed.