Biocompatible Polymeric Micelles and Their Biomedical Applications

Due to the small size, abundant end-group functionality and easy production, hyperbranched polymers promise a wide range of applications ranging from catalyst to nanomedicineand drug delivery [1]. Polymeric micelles are self-assembled core-shell nanostructures formed in an aqueous solutionconsisting of amphiphilic block copolymers. The inner hydrophobic core of the micelles serves as a microenvironment for incorporating hydrophobic drugs byphysical entrapment, while the outer hydrophilic shell maintains a hydration barrier to provide a stable interfacebetween the hydrophobic core and the external medium [2]. In this work we report a novel type of polymeric micelles which are able to encapsulate and deliver hydrophobic anticancer drugs.