BLOCK COPOLYMERS FOR STABLE MICELLES

1 . A micelle comprising a triblock copolymer, wherein said micelle has a drug-loaded inner core, a crosslinked outer core, and a hydrophilic shell, wherein the triblock copolymer is of formula VII:

wherein:

n is 20-500;

m is 1 or 2;

x 1 is 1-20;

x 2 is 0-20;

y is 5 to 100;

R y is selected from one or more natural or unnatural amino acid side chain groups such that the overall block is hydrophobic;

M is a metal ion;

R T is —Z(CH 2 CH 2 Y) p (CH 2 ) t R 3 , wherein:

Z is —O—, —S—, —C≡C—, or —CH 2 —;

each Y is independently —O— or —S—;

p is 0-10;

t is 0-10; and

Each R 3 is independently selected from —N 3 , —CN, a mono-protected amine, a di-protected amine, a protected aldehyde, a protected hydroxyl, a protected carboxylic acid, a protected thiol, a 9-30 membered crown ether, or an optionally substituted group selected from aliphatic, a 5-8 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, an 8-10 membered saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl bicyclic ring having 0-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

The drug is a molecularly targeted therapeutic.

2 . A micelle according to claim 1 , wherein the drug is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

3 . A micelle according to claim 1 , wherein the drug is LY2835219.

4 . A micelle according to claim 1 , wherein the drug is LCL161.

5 . A micelle according to claim 1 , wherein the drug is [tris(8-quinolinolato)gallium(III)].