Diacyllipid-Polymer Micelles as Nanocarriers for Poorly Soluble Anticancer Drugs

Abstract

Highly stable micelles with the size of 10 to 40 nm can be prepared from poly(ethylene glycol)/phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PEG−PE) conjugates. These micelles easily solubilize and firmly retain substantial quantities of various poorly soluble anticancer drugs (m-porphyrin, tamoxifen, taxol). The micelles with encapsulated drugs have the size and size distribution very close to that of original “empty” micelles. Stable drug-loaded polymeric micelles may represent a convenient drug delivery system into tumors utilizing the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect.