Techniek 15+: Medicijntoediening - Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

Proposal
Scheme 2
The rubbery and oxidizable purple chains of
poly(propylene sulfide) (PPS) are confined in the
hydrophobic domain; the black poly(propylene
glycol) blocks of Pluronic ® are there entrapped;
orange hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) segments
are displayed in the water phase and bear
functional groups at the extremities.
One of the next steps in this research is studying
the reactivity of these alcoholic groups.
Instead of the OH-bearing commercially available Pluronic ® , or together with it, a Pluronic whose
terminal OH groups have been reacted with the enzyme glucose oxidase will be used to make the
polysulfide particles. This will make the particles extremely sensitive to the presence of glucose,
because of the local high enzyme concentration. The in membrana generated hydrogen peroxide,
through oxidation of glucose by glucose oxidase, would efficiently oxidize the particles by means of a
surface erosion mechanism, possibly releasing molecules incorporated in the carrier.
In other words, a signal such as the blood glucose concentration could be translated into the release
of therapeutic agents by the use of an appropriate ‘actuator’, which is the enzyme-mediated oxidation
of the PPS core.
In perspective, these carriers would be suitable for drug release in pathological conditions
characterized by excessive glucose concentration, such as in diabetes mellitus.
Bijlage 2 bij aanleermodule Medicijntoediening (docentenhandleiding) m.b.t. medicijnafgifte-systeem voor type II
diabetes patiënten