Polymer micelles as drug carriers

Block copolymer micelles are composed of polymer chains with sequences of hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks. In a dilute aqueous solution, they form spherical or cylindrical nano-objects comprised of several chains with a hydrophobic core and extended hydrophilic corona. Lipophilic drugs can be dissolved in the core of these micelles, while the corona will assure solubility of this nano-container in aqueous media. In addition, if the corona is composed of a block which does not induce the immune reaction (for example PEO) the interior of the micelle will be invisible to the immune system. Such systems are extensively studied experimentally. Read more