Acid-responsive polysaccharide derivatives: Smart particles for therapeutic applications

• Applicant: Dr. Stephanie Schubert
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: from 2009 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 125152676

The development of smart particles for therapeutic applications provides a challenge for scientist all over the world. In this regard, polymers seem to be highly promising materials due to their diversity in structures and functionalities. In particular polysaccharides provide the biocompatibility and the biodegradability that are essential for medical applications. A defined functionalization of polysaccharides will result in tailored polymers for the desired application as smart drug delivery devices. Therefore, the water-soluble polyglucan dextran will be functionalized with hydrophobic groups that may have biological activity via acidresponsive linkages resulting in derivatives capable for the formation of nanoparticular systems. The drugs will be immobilized either by physical encapsulation or covalent attachment to the polymer backbone and released at the targeted site under slightly acidic conditions. In addition, the specific cell penetration may be enhanced using peptide sequences attached to the polymers. Therefore, efficient methods must be developed and applied for the immobilization of peptides, e.g. by click chemistry. Once the new functional particles have been synthesized, laser scanning confocal microscopy will be utilized to image the interactions with cells.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Dr. Jean M.J. Fréchet