Complex aggregates formed with a hyperbranched polyglycerol derivative for drug delivery

An amphiphilic hyperbranched polyglycerol derivative (HPG-C18) was synthesized by the anionic ring-opening copolymerization with glycidol and 1,2-epoxyloctadecane as the monomers. This hyperbranched polymer formed large complex aggregates as confirmed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy tests. Because of its amphiphilic properties, HPG-C18 was explored to load hydrophobic docetaxel, a clinical antitumor drug, and deliver it into breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) cells. To investigate the application of the aggregates in drug delivery, blood compatibility was studied by hemolysis analysis, red blood cell observation, and thromboelastography assay. These results indicate that HPG-C18 inhibited MCF-7 proliferation effectively with good blood compatibility, and this suggested a potential application in tumor therapy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133 , 42895.