Poly(l-aspartic acid) derivative soluble in a volatile organic solvent for biomedical application

[Display omitted] ► We engineered a functional poly(l-aspartic acid) that can be dissolved in volatile organic solvents. ► This polymer enabled the ready removal of organic solvent during the micelle fabrication. ► Doxorubicin loaded poly(l-aspartic acid) micelles showed pH-stimulated drug release pattern. In order to develop a novel functional poly(l-amino acid) that can dissolve in volatile organic solvents, we prepared poly[l-aspartic acid-g-(3-diethylaminopropyl)]-b-poly(ethylene glycol) [poly(l-Asp-g-DEAP)-b-PEG] via the conjugation of 3-diethylaminopropyl (DEAP) to carboxylate groups of poly(l-Asp) (Mn 4K)-b-PEG (Mn 2K). This poly(l-aspartic acid) derivative evidenced a relatively high solubility in volatile organic solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, and acetone. We fabricated a model nanostructure (i.e., polymeric micelle) using poly(l-Asp-g-DEAP)-b-PEG by the film rehydration method, which involves the simple removal of the volatile organic solvent (dichloromethane) used to dissolve polymer, reducing concerns about organic solvents remaining in a nano-sized particle. Interestingly, this micelle showed the pH-stimulated release of encapsulated model drug [i.e., doxorubicin (DOX)] due to the protonation of DEAP according to the pH of the solution. We expect that this poly(l-aspartic acid) derivative promises to provide pharmaceutical potential for constituting a new stimuli-sensitive drug carrier for various drug molecules.