Bleul, ReginaReginaBleulThiermann, RaphaelRaphaelThiermannSaatchi, KatayounKatayounSaatchiHäfeli, UrsUrsHäfeliMaskos, MichaelMichaelMaskos2022-03-132022-03-132013https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/39253110.1117/12.2008194Polymeric vesicles (Pluronic® L-121) loaded with magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) and an anti-cancer drug (camptothecin) were prepared continuously in a micro mixing device. Characterization by TEM confirmed the successful incorporation of the MNP and DLS measurements showed a relatively narrow size distribution of the hybrid polymersomes. A very high drug loading of camptothecin (100 mg/ml in the polymersome formulation) was reached and a drug release study of loaded magnetic polymersomes has shown a sustained camptothecin release over several days. Carboxylation of Pluronic® L-121 was performed and enabled a further surface functionalization with bombesin, a 14 amino acid peptide, which binds specifically to the GRPR (gastrin releasing peptide receptor). This receptor is often overexpressed in tumor cells (e.g., human prostate cancer cells) and therefore a suitable target for cancer treatment. An additional fluorescence label with Alexa Fluor® 647 allow tracking of the polymersomes e.g., in cell experiments. Relaxivity measurements to evaluate the potential of magnetic polymersomes as MR contrast agent for in vivo imaging are in progress.ennanoparticlecancer research660Multifunctional nanocarriers for biomedical applicationsconference paper