Development of coacervates using mpegylated poly(Ethylene arginylaspartate diglyceride) cationic polymer for protein delivery

Statement of Purpose: Development of polymeric delivery vehicles such as synthetic polymers liposome and variety biopolymers received attention of researchers for delivering protein molecules under physiological degradation. Especially, polycations have been extensively developed to prepare polyplexes with anionic biomolecules such as nucleic acid, with increased accessibility to cells. In this study, we synthesized a synthetic polycation, mPEGylated Poly(ethylene arginylaspartate diglyceride) (mPEG_PEAD) and prepared coacervate-microparticles with anionic heparin as a growth factor (GF) delivery vehicle. PEG chain moiety of polycation could reduce aggregation by increasing colloidal stability in aqueous environments. Coacervation is a process of liquid-liquid separation at isoelectric point as a result of neutralization of oppositely charged macromolecules. Coacervate of polycation/heparin exhibit several advantages such as a simple preparation, protection of cargo GF, higher encapsulation efficiency, and a sustained and controlled release of cargo GFs.