Biocompatible drug delivery system for photo-triggered controlled release of 5-Fluorouracil

The synthesis of a photo-triggered biocompatible drug delivery system on the basis of coumarin-functionalized block copolymers is reported. The coumarin-functionalized block copolymers poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(n-butyl methacrylate-co-4-methyl-[7-(methacryloyl)oxyethyloxy]coumarin)) (PEO-b-P(BMA- co-CMA)) were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The micelle-drug conjugates were made by covalent bonding of anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to the coumarin under UV irradiation at wavelength >310 nm. These micelle-drug conjugates possessed spherical morphology with diameters of 70 nm from TEM images. In vitro drug release experiments showed the controlled release of anticancer drug 5-FU from the micelle-drug conjugates under UV irradiation (254 nm). These micelle-drug conjugates also showed excellent biocompatibility by the in vitro cytotoxicity experiments. The results suggest that these micelle-drug conjugates could be a promising candidate for the delivery of anticancer agents with low side effects on normal cells and excellent therapeutic efficacy to cancer cells.