ABC Micelles for Drug Delivery - Nanoscopic Vehicles for Potent Yet Toxic and Poorly Water-Soluble Compounds

Amphiphilic block copolymers (ABCs) assemble into nanoscopic supramolecular core-shell structures called micelles, which are under extensive study for drug delivery. The shell of ABC micelles consists of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), a non-toxic water-soluble polymer, which prevents protein adsorption and cellular adhesion, and the core of ABC micelles consists of a smaller hydrophobic block or part, which varies in drug delivery due to the requirements of biocompatibility, compatibility with the poorly water-soluble drug of interest, and stability of ABC micelles in blood. In drug delivery, a goal is to study the potential of ABC micelles as `nanocarriers'for potent yet toxic and poorly water-soluble drugs.