Date of Award
2011
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Engineering Science
Program
Biomedical Engineering
Supervisor
Dr. Elizabeth R. Gillies
Abstract
Poly(ester amide)s (PEA)s offer several properties superior to currently used systems such as fewer acidic degradation products and functional handles for the conjugation of bioactive molecules. Herein, two novel PEA based drug delivery systems were developed and evaluated. The first utilizes PEAs containing pendant carboxylic acid functional groups and was evaluated with respect to its ability to control the release of a model drug, a Rhodamine B derivative. The drug exhibited sustained release without a burst phase, demonstrating the utility of the carboxylic functional handles. A second drug delivery system was prepared utilizing novel polyethylene oxide)-PEA copolymers which formed into micelles. The resulting system was capable of encapsulating and releasing Nile Red, a model hydrophobic drug, on a pharmacologically relevant time scale. Overall, these results suggest that PEAs are excellent biomaterials, capable of delivering therapeutics and have the potential to overcome many of the deficiencies found in current delivery systems.
Recommended Citation
Zilinskas, Gregory J., "Nanoscale Drug Delivery Vehicles Based on Poly(ester amide)s" (2011). Digitized Theses. 3436.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3436