Surface decorated poly(ester-ether-urethane)s nanoparticles: A versatile approach towards clinical translation

Poly(ester-ether-urethane)s copolymers are a resourceful class of biopolymers for the preparation of nanocarriers for drug delivery applications. However, a simple clinical translation for this synthetic material with biological and quality features is still needed. In this view, poly(ε-caprolactone)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers were synthesized as semi-bulk pilot (Kg) scale under mild conditions in absence of catalyst, bearing functional termini such as fluorescein tag and anticancer targeting moieties. The obtained materials were processed into surface decorated paclitaxel (PTX) loaded nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were fully characterized in vitro and in vivo biodistribution in healthy mice evidenced no sign of toxicity and lower levels of PTX in lung and spleen, compared to clinically applied PTX dosage form.