Polyion complex (PIC) micelles have gained an increasing interest, mainly as promising nano-vehicles for the delivery of various hydrophilic charged (macro)molecules such as DNA or drugs to the body. The aim of the present study is to construct novel functional PIC micelles bearing cell targeting ligands on the surface and to evaluate the possibility of a hydrophobic drug encapsulation. Initially, a pair of functional oppositely charged peptide-based hybrid diblock copolymers were synthesized and characterized. The copolymers spontaneously co-assembled in water into nanosized PIC micelles comprising a core of a polyelectrolyte complex between poly(L-aspartic acid) and poly(L-lysine) and a biocompatible mixed shell of disaccharide-modified poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). Depending on the molar ratio between the oppositely charged groups, PIC micelles varying in surface charge were obtained and loaded with the natural hydrophobic drug curcumin. PIC micelles' drug loading efficiency, in vitro drug release profiles and antioxidant activity were evaluated. The preliminary results indicate that PIC micelles can be successfully used as carriers of hydrophobic drugs, thus expanding their potential application in nanomedicine.
Keywords: curcumin; drug delivery; peptide-based block copolymers; polyion complex micelles; synthesis.