Block copolymers and uses thereof
AssigneeEcole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (Epfl)
InventorsJames Brandon Dixon, Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Conlin P. O'Neil, Melody Swartz, Diana Velluto
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Abstract
Block copolymers containing charged blocks or chemical moieties sensitive to oxidation or hydrolysis have been developed. We describe the use of such block copolymers in supramolecular structures, e.g., micelles or vesicles, and pharmaceutical compositions and in methods of preparing the supramolecular structures and pharmaceutical compositions. The invention is particularly useful for the delivery of pharmaceutical agents, e.g., nucleic acids, to cells.
Claims16
A block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, wherein said hydrophilic or hydrophobic block is interrupted with a hydrolysable chemical moiety,
- wherein said hydrophilic block comprises poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(acrylic acid), poly(ethyloxazoline), poly(alkylacrylates), poly(acrylamide), poly(N-alkylacrylamides), polysaccharide, poly(N,N-dialkylacrylamides), hyaluronic acid, or poly (N-acryloylmorpholine), and
- said hydrophobic block comprises poly(propylene sulfide), poly(propylene glycol), esterified poly(acrylic acid), esterified poly(glutamic acid), or esterified poly(aspartic acid);
- and
- wherein said hydrolysable chemical moiety is not a block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.