Abstract
To explore block glycopolymers as novel polymeric delivery nanocarriers for anticancer drug bortezomib (BTZ), three types of block glycopolymers, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(gluconamido ethyl methacrylate) (PEG(113)-b-PGAMA(20)), poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(styrene)-block-poly(gluconamido ethyl methacrylate) (PEG(113)-b-PS(50)-b-PGAMA(20)), and poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(2-(diethyl amino) ethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(gluconamido ethyl methacrylate) (PEG(113)-b-PDEA(50)-b-PGAMA(20)), were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using a PEG-based ATRP macroinitiator. Three glycopolymers possess the capacity to load BTZ via pH-induced dynamic covalent bonding and/or hydrophobic interaction with their specific self-assembly behaviors, and PEG(113)-b-PS(50)-b-PGAMA(20) carrier maintains the sustain release behavior of BTZ due to the stable micellar structure; PEG(113)-b-PDEA(50)-b-PGAMA(20) carrier realizes the abrupt release at pH 5.5 by collapse of micellar structure, while PEG(113)-b-PGAMA(20) carrier exhibits the fastest release at studied solution pHs. This study would provide a light to develop novel block glycopolymer carrier for the delivery of anticancer drug bearing boronic acid groups. Graphical abstractᅟᅟ.