Thermosensitive PEGylated polypeptides

Abstract

We report a thermosensitive polypeptide consisting of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol)s and hydrophobic phenyl alanine ethyl esters. It is soluble in most solvents and undergoes a micelle (radius ≈ 10 nm) to nanoparticle (radius ≈ 100 nm) transition in water as the temperature increases. The transition temperature could be controlled to between 30 and 40°C by varying the number of poly(ethylene glycol) grafts. This system might he promising for advanced drug delivery.