Tri-block copolymers for nanosphere-based drug delivery

1. A composition comprising (a) vesicular nano spheres of a triblock oligomer consisting of a single A-B-A structure wherein each A end block is a poly(alkylene oxide) having the structure:

R 3 —[(CH 2 —) a CHR 3 —O—] m —

and the B middle block is hydrophobic with the same or different repeating units having the structure according to Formula II:

wherein X is

Z is an integer, between 2 and about 100, inclusive, that provides a middle block with a weight-average molecular weight between about 1000 and about 25,000 g/mol; R 1 is CH═CH or (CH 2 ) n wherein n is from 0 to 18, inclusive; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and straight and branched alkyl and alkylaryl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; and R is selected from the group consisting of a bond or straight and branched alkyl and alkylaryl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms; and (b) a hydrophobic compound complexed by said nanospheres;

wherein m for each A is independently selected to provide a molecular weight for each A between about 1000 and about 15,000 g/mol; R 3 for each A and within each A is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl groups containing from one to four carbon atoms; and a is an integer greater than or equal to one; and

wherein said triblock oligomer is fully resorbable and degrades by hydrolysis in vivo into biocompatible and non-cytotoxic degradation products.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said end blocks have the structure CH 3 O—[CH 2 —CH 2 —O—] m .

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein Z is about 10.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein one or more of R, R 1 , and R 2 contain an ether linkage.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is —CH 2 —CH 2 —.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is selected from the group consisting of ethyl, butyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl and benzyl groups.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R contains up to 12 carbon atoms.

8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein R is selected from the group consisting of —CH 2 —CH 2 —C(═O)—, —CH═CH—, —CH 2 —CH(—OH)—, —CH 2 —C(═O)— and (—CH 2 —) z , wherein z is between 0 and 12, inclusive.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the complexed hydrophobic compound is a biologically or pharmaceutically active compound.

10. A composition for delivering a hydrophobic compound to a patient in need thereof comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 .

11. The composition of claim 10 , wherein said nanospheres are embedded or dispersed in a drug delivery oligomer matrix.

12. The composition of claim 9 , 10 , or 11 , wherein said active hydrophobic compound is selected from the group consisting of anti-tumor agents, antibiotics, antimicrobials, statins, peptides, proteins, hormones, and vaccines.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein said active hydrophobic compound is selected from the group consisting of paclitaxel, camptothecin, 9-nitrocamptothecin, cisplatin, carboplatin, ciprofloxacin, doxorubicin, rolipram, simvastatin, methotrexate, indomethacin, probiprofen, ketoprofen, iroxicam, diclofenac, cyclosporine, etraconazole, rapamycin, nocodazole, colchicine, ketoconazole, tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline, ofloxacin, gentamicin, octreotide, calcitonin, interferon, testosterone, progesterone, estradiol, estrogen, and insulin.

14. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the complexed compound is a contrast agent.

15. A method for site-specific or systemic drug delivery comprising administering to a patient in need thereof the composition of claim 10 or 11 .