@article{eprints3243,
          volume = {59},
            year = {2016},
         journal = {Materials Science and Engineering: C},
           pages = {488 -- 499},
       publisher = {Elsevier},
          author = {Mariacristina Gagliardi and Alice Bertero and Giuseppe Bardi and Angelo Bifone},
           title = {A poly(ether-ester) copolymer for the preparation of nanocarriers with improved degradation and drug delivery kinetics},
             url = {http://eprints.imtlucca.it/3243/},
        abstract = {Abstract This paper reports the synthesis and the physicochemical, functional and biological characterisations of nanocarriers made of a novel di-block biodegradable poly(ether-ester) copolymer. This material presents tunable, fast biodegradation rates, but its products are less acidic than those of other biosorbable polymers like PLGA, thus presenting a better biocompatibility profile and the possibility to carry pH-sensitive payloads. A method for the production of monodisperse and spherical nanoparticles is proposed; drug delivery kinetics and blood protein adsorption were measured to evaluate the functional properties of these nanoparticles as drug carriers. The copolymer was labelled with a fluorescent dye for internalisation tests, and rhodamine B was used as a model cargo to study transport and release inside cultured cells. Biological tests demonstrated good cytocompatibility, significant cell internalisation and the possibility to vehiculate non-cell penetrating moieties into endothelial cells. Taken together, these results support the potential use of this nanoparticulate system for systemic administration of drugs.},
        keywords = {Biodegradable nanoparticles; Drug delivery; Biodegradation; Biocompatibility; Metoxy polyethyleneglycol-block-poly({\ensuremath{\epsilon}}-caprolactone-co-4-hydroxyvalerolactone)}
}