Computer simulation of a pH-responsive drug delivery system formed by μ-ABC miktoarm star polymers in aqueous solution

The development of pH-responsive drug delivery systems is a critical frontier in the field of targeted cancer therapy. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the self-assembly and drug release behavior of a pH-responsive anticancer drug delivery system utilizing μ-ABC miktoarm star p...

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Main Authors: Zengwei Ma, Lijun Li, Nan Hu, Jianwei Wei, Lin Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-04-01
Series:International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475411.2025.2482923
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author Zengwei Ma
Lijun Li
Nan Hu
Jianwei Wei
Lin Chen
author_facet Zengwei Ma
Lijun Li
Nan Hu
Jianwei Wei
Lin Chen
author_sort Zengwei Ma
collection DOAJ
description The development of pH-responsive drug delivery systems is a critical frontier in the field of targeted cancer therapy. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the self-assembly and drug release behavior of a pH-responsive anticancer drug delivery system utilizing μ-ABC miktoarm star polymers through dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. By changing the hydrophilic arm length, the morphology of drug carriers can manifest as vesicles, ellipsoidal micelles, or spherical micelles. The length of the pH-responsive arm is crucial in influencing the size and aggregation number of the carriers, especially when the hydrophilic arms are long. At low pH values, when the pH-responsive arm is fully protonated, drug-loaded vesicles undergo a transformation into long nanoribbons, whereas ellipsoidal and spherical micelles disassemble into smaller fragments. Among these structures, spherical drug-loaded micelles exhibit superior performance concerning drug release rate and uniformity. Furthermore, the drug release mechanisms at different pH values for the three types of drug carriers have also been studied in detail. Notably, we find that the electrostatic interaction is a critical factor in determining the drug release mechanism. This research provides valuable insights into the design of pH-responsive drug carriers based on the miktoarm star polymers.
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series International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials
spelling doaj-art-dd2898d40e584f6d90f3803fc9889e9a2025-08-20T03:24:39ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Smart and Nano Materials1947-54111947-542X2025-04-0116222424410.1080/19475411.2025.2482923Computer simulation of a pH-responsive drug delivery system formed by μ-ABC miktoarm star polymers in aqueous solutionZengwei Ma0Lijun Li1Nan Hu2Jianwei Wei3Lin Chen4Science of College, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, ChinaScience of College, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, ChinaScience of College, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, ChinaScience of College, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, ChinaScience of College, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, ChinaThe development of pH-responsive drug delivery systems is a critical frontier in the field of targeted cancer therapy. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the self-assembly and drug release behavior of a pH-responsive anticancer drug delivery system utilizing μ-ABC miktoarm star polymers through dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations. By changing the hydrophilic arm length, the morphology of drug carriers can manifest as vesicles, ellipsoidal micelles, or spherical micelles. The length of the pH-responsive arm is crucial in influencing the size and aggregation number of the carriers, especially when the hydrophilic arms are long. At low pH values, when the pH-responsive arm is fully protonated, drug-loaded vesicles undergo a transformation into long nanoribbons, whereas ellipsoidal and spherical micelles disassemble into smaller fragments. Among these structures, spherical drug-loaded micelles exhibit superior performance concerning drug release rate and uniformity. Furthermore, the drug release mechanisms at different pH values for the three types of drug carriers have also been studied in detail. Notably, we find that the electrostatic interaction is a critical factor in determining the drug release mechanism. This research provides valuable insights into the design of pH-responsive drug carriers based on the miktoarm star polymers.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475411.2025.2482923Miktoarm star polymersself-assemblydrug deliverydissipative particle dynamics
spellingShingle Zengwei Ma
Lijun Li
Nan Hu
Jianwei Wei
Lin Chen
Computer simulation of a pH-responsive drug delivery system formed by μ-ABC miktoarm star polymers in aqueous solution
International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials
Miktoarm star polymers
self-assembly
drug delivery
dissipative particle dynamics
title Computer simulation of a pH-responsive drug delivery system formed by μ-ABC miktoarm star polymers in aqueous solution
title_full Computer simulation of a pH-responsive drug delivery system formed by μ-ABC miktoarm star polymers in aqueous solution
title_fullStr Computer simulation of a pH-responsive drug delivery system formed by μ-ABC miktoarm star polymers in aqueous solution
title_full_unstemmed Computer simulation of a pH-responsive drug delivery system formed by μ-ABC miktoarm star polymers in aqueous solution
title_short Computer simulation of a pH-responsive drug delivery system formed by μ-ABC miktoarm star polymers in aqueous solution
title_sort computer simulation of a ph responsive drug delivery system formed by μ abc miktoarm star polymers in aqueous solution
topic Miktoarm star polymers
self-assembly
drug delivery
dissipative particle dynamics
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19475411.2025.2482923
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