Block copolymers for stable micelles

A micelle comprising a triblock copolymer, wherein said micelle has a drug-loaded inner core, a crosslinked outer core, and a hydrophilic shell, wherein the triblock copolymer is of formula VII:

• wherein:
• n is 20-500;
• m is 1 or 2;
• x1 is 1-20;
• x2 is 0-20;
• y is 5 to 100;
• Ry is selected from one or more natural or unnatural amino acid side chain groups such that the overall block is hydrophobic;
• M is a metal ion;
• RT is —Z(CH2CH2Y)p(CH2)tR3, wherein:
• Z is —O—, —S—, —C≡C—, or —CH2—;
• each Y is independently —O— or —S—;
• p is 0-10;
• t is 0-10;
• each R3 is independently selected from —N3, —CN, a mono-protected amine, a di-protected amine, a protected aldehyde, a protected hydroxyl, a protected carboxylic acid, a protected thiol, a 9-30 membered crown ether, or an optionally substituted group selected from aliphatic, a 5-8 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, an 8-10 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl bicyclic ring having 0-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;
• and
• wherein the drug-loaded inner core is loaded with one or more hydrophobic drugs selected from HDAC inhibitors, mitotic inhibitors, microtubule stabilizers, DNA intercalators, and topoisomerase inhibitors.