A drug-delivery system for albendazole (ABZ) based on β-cyclodextrin has been synthesized. Well-defined statistical copolymers, composed of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM) and trimethylsilylpropargyl acrylate (TMSPA), have been prepared by reversible additionÀfragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The reactivity ratios were determined to be r TMSPA = 1.12 and r NIPAAm = 0.49, in the absence of RAFT agent, and r TMSPA = 1.35 and r NIPAAm = 0.35, in the presence of RAFT agent using the average of different techniques. Block copolymers were prepared using a POEGMEA 40 macro-RAFT agent chain extended with NIPAAm and TMSPA in various feed ratios. After deprotection, the polymers were reacted with 6I-azido-6I-deoxy-β-cyclodextrin via Huisgen azideÀalkyne 1,3dipolar cycloaddition, resulting in thermo-responsive block copolymers with pendant β-cyclodextrin groups, which were then acetylated to modify the polarity and inclusion-complex formation of β-cyclodextrin with the drug albendazole (ABZ). Only block copolymers with small amounts of cyclodextrin were observed to have an LCST while the copolymers containing higher β-cyclodextrin fractions increased the LCST of PNIPAAm beyond measurable temperature ranges. Encapsulation of ABZ increased the LCST. The loading efficiency increased in the polymer β-cyclodextrin conjugate compared to native β-cyclodextrin with the highest loading observed in the block copolymer after all remaining cyclodextrin hydroxyl groups had been acetylated. While β-cyclodextrin is toxic, attachment of a polymer lowered the toxicity to nontoxic levels. The ABZ-loaded polymers were all observed to be highly toxic to OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cell lines with the acetylated polymer showing the highest toxicity.

This Review summarizes the structures obtained when marrying synthetic polymers of varying architectures with cyclodextrins. Polymers with cyclodextrin pendant groups were obtained by directly polymerizing cyclodextrin-based monomers or by postmodification of reactive polymers with cyclodextrins. Star polymers with cyclodextrin as the core with up to 21 arms were usually obtained by using modified cyclodextrins as initiator or controlling agent. Limited reports are available on the synthesis of star polymers by arm-first techniques, which all employed azide-functionalized cyclodextrin and ‘click’ chemistry to attach seven polymer arms to the cyclodextrin core. Polymer chains with one or two cyclodextrin terminal units were reported as well as star polymers carrying a cyclodextrin molecule at the end of each arm. Cyclodextrin polymers were obtained using different polymerization techniques ranging from atom transfer radical polymerization, reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization, nitroxide-mediated polymerization, free radical polymerization to (ionic) ring-opening polymerization, and polycondensation. Cyclodextrin polymers touch all areas of polymer science from gene delivery, self-assembled structures, drug carriers, molecular sensors, hydrogels, and liquid crystalline polymers. This Review attempts to focus on the range of work conducted with polymers and cyclodextrins and highlights some of the key areas where these macromolecules have been applied.