Preparation and Characterization of Polymeric Nano Carrier Based on Hydroxypropyl cellulose as a Targeted Anticancer Drug Delivery System

Hydrophobically modified-polysaccharides, as a novel kind of polymeric amphiphiles, have attracted an increasing interest recently since their self-assembled nanoparticles in theaqueous media are suitable for trapping hydrophobic substances and some bioactive macromolecules inbiotechnology and medicine [1]. In our previous works,synthesis of liquid crystalline amphiphilic cholesterylmodified HPC derivatives (CHDs) and preparation ofthermosensitive nanosized micelles from CHDs as a novel carrier of hydrophobic drugs were described [2, 3]. Herein, amphiphilic HPC comprising hydrophobic cholesteryl moietyand hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains were used as a promising drug carrier. PEG is a nonimmunogenicnontoxic water-soluble polymer, which is hydrophilic and known to prevent interactions with proteins [4]. The hydrophilic PEG outer layer of micelles acts as a shelter toprotect the inner hydrophobic core from being recognized and cleaned by the reticuloendothelial system and other clearingorgans. The aim of this work is to develop a new micellar vehicles based on amphiphilic HPCs covalently bound with folic acid (FA) and evaluate them as an anticancer drug delivery system