Decomposition and Transformation of Pyrene-Derivative Micelles at Intracellular Milieu and Their Influence on Cytoviability

The amphiphilic pyrene-containing random copolymers with pH-sensitive hydrazone bonds are synthesized by copolymerizing hydrophobic pyrene-containing methacrylhydrazone with hydrophilic N , N -dimethylacrylamide. The hydrolysable copolymers form spherical micelles at pH 6, which are further transformed into pure 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde nanorods due to cleavage of the hydrazone bonds. Likewise, the shape transformation is observed under pH 5.5 phosphate buffered saline. Moreover, the hydrolysable micelles being co-cultured with A549 cells cause higher cytotoxicity than the non-hydrolysable ones without shape transformation, which are synthesized by reducing the hydrazone bonds with NaHB 4 .