In vitro cytotoxicity, hemolysis assay, and biodegradation behavior of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) nanoparticles as potential drug carriers.

Nanoparticles based on amorphous poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB-PEG-PHB) are potential drug delivery vehicles, and so their cytotoxicity and hemolysis assay were investigated in vitro using two kinds of animal cells. The PHB-PEG-PHB nanoparticles showed excellent biocompatibility and had no cytotoxicity on animal cells, even when the concentrations of the PHB-PEG-PHB nanoparticle dispersions were increased to 120 microg/mL. Moreover, no hemolysis was detected with the PHB-PEG-PHB nanoparticles, suggesting that the PHB-PEG-PHB nanoparticles were obviously much hemocompatible for drug delivery applications. In the presence of intracellular enzyme esterase, the biocompatible PHB-PEG-PHB nanoparticles might be hydrolyzed, and their biodegradable behavior was monitored by the fluorescence spectrum and the pH meter. The initial biodegradation rate of the PHB-PEG-PHB nanoparticles was closely related to the enzymatic amount and the PHB block length. Compared with that obtained from the fluorescence determination, the initial biodegradation rate from pH measurement was faster. The biodegraded products mainly consisted of 3HB monomer and dimer, which were the metabolites present in the body.