Poly(hydroxy acid) Nanoparticles for the Encapsulation and Controlled Release of Doxorubicin

Diblock poly(hydroxy acid) copolymers are created by the sequential ring‐opening polymerization of l‐phenylalanine O‐carboxyanhydride and l‐lysine(carboxybenzyl) O‐carboxyanhydride, and l‐phenylalanine O‐carboxyanhydride and γ ‐benzyl l‐glutamic acid O‐carboxyanhydride. Upon protecting group removal, two amphiphilic block copolymers are formed that can self‐organize in aqueous solution to form spherical nanoparticles. Such nanoparticles are capable of encapsulating doxorubicin before allowing its programmed payload release upon incubation within acidic solution. Consequently, the reported biodegradable materials are highly promising candidates for deployment for the transport and programmed release of chemotherapeutics to acidic environments, such as cancerous tissue.