Design and synthesis of pH-sensitive polymeric micelles for oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs

pH-sensitive polymer poly (polylactide-co-methacrylic acid)–b-poly (acrylic acid) was synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization and ring-opening polymerization and characterized by gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR. The polymers can self-assemble to form micelles in aqueous medium, which respond rapidly to pH change within the gastrointestinal relevant pH range. Critical micelle concentrations and pH response behavior of the polymeric micelle were investigated. Water-insoluble drug nifedipine was loaded and the drug-loading content can be controlled by tuning the composition of the polymers. The in vitro release studies indicate pH sensitivity enabled rapid drug release at the environment of simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.36), the cumulative released amount of NFD reached more than 80% within 24 h, while only 35% in the simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.35). All the results showed that the pH-sensitive P(PLAMA-co-MAA)–b-PAA micelle may be a prospective candidate as oral drug delivery carrier for hydrophobic drugs with controlled release behavior.