Thermo-triggered and biotinylated biotin-P(NIPAAm-co-HMAAm)-b-PMMA micelles for controlled drug release.

Thermosensitive and biotinylated biotin-poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-hydroxymethylacrylamide)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (biotin-P(NIPAAm-co-HMAAm)-b-PMMA) block copolymers were designed and synthesized. The conjugation of biotin molecule with the copolymer as well as the capability of easily functionalizing with ligands for pretargeting approach of the biotinylated multifunctional drug carrier was confirmed by a novel method called capillary electrophoresis immunoassay (CEIA) based on enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) detection. The biotin-P(NIPAAm-co-HMAAm)-b-PMMA copolymer was capable of self-assembling into nanometer-sized micelle. The anticancer drug methotrexate (MTX), used as a model drug, was loaded in the self-assembled micelles and the thermo-triggered release behavior of MTX was investigated.