Study of Thin Films and Nanoparticles Obtained by Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers and Their Interactions with an Oligo/Polysaccharide

The study, conducted 12 years ago, investigated the self-assembly of diblock copolymers and their interactions with an oligo/polysaccharide. The researchers studied the microphase separation in bulk of a diblock copolymer and the self-assembly of an amphiphilic diblock copolymer based on polystyrene (PS) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). They also examined these copolymers' ability to incorporate and transdermally release the drug finasteride, used for treating androgenetic alopecia. The morphology of the films was analyzed using SAXS and (S)TEM. The study also explored the development of well-organized nanoparticles with bioinspired surface properties, formed between negatively charged polymersomes based on PS and PAA block copolymers decorated with chitosan. The effect of chitosan decoration of self-assembled nanoparticles on skin penetration in vitro of finasteride was evaluated. The study found that an improved permeation of finasteride from the nanoparticle system was observed, especially from nanoparticles decorated with chitosan. The PS404-b-PAA63 polymersome decorated with chitosan was identified as the most appropriate system for transdermal drug delivery of finasteride.