PEGylated Fmoc-amino acid conjugates as effective nanocarriers for improved drug delivery

A structure-activity relationship (SAR) study was conducted using a series of PEGylated Fmoc-amino acid conjugates (PFA) as a simple model to gain more insight into carrier-drug interaction. Among the eight PEG₂₀₀₀-Fmoc conjugates with different neighboring structures of Fmoc motif, PEG₂₀₀₀-Fmoc-Lys (Cbz) (PFA₂)-based nanomicelles exhibited the smallest particle size distribution, lowest critical micelle concentration (CMC) value, and highest loading capacity with paclitaxel (PTX). These biophysical properties were largely attributed to the strengthened carrier-carrier and carrier-drug interaction, including π-π stacking, hydrophobic, and hydrogen bonding interaction, as confirmed by fluorescence quenching and ¹³C NMR study. In vitro and in vivo evaluation further demonstrated the effectiveness of PFA₂ as a nanocarrier for efficient delivery of PTX to achieve improved antitumor activity. Importantly, PFA₂ was also effective in formulating eight other model drugs of diverse structures, indicating a broad application potential. This work may shed insights into the molecular basis for the structural optimization of nanocarriers for improved delivery efficacy.