Preparation and characterization of steroid and umbelliferone-based hetero-bifunctional poly(epsilon-caprolactone)s for potential drug delivery systems: antimicrobial and anticancer activities

The present study contains a comprehensive study of steroid and umbelliferone-based modified poly(epsilon-caprolactone)s as a potential carrier for the drug delivery systems. The modified PCLs were successfully synthesized via a combined ring-opening polymerization and "click" chemistry technique. Herein, the alpha-end of the PCL polymer chain was modified with different bioactive steroidal compounds (cholesterol, pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol), while a natural plant-derived compound (umbelliferone) was conjugated to the omega-end. The chemical structure and molecular characteristics of synthesized materials were confirmed by H-1-NMR, FTIR, GPC, DSC, TGA, POM, Uv-vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. The in vitro antimicrobial evaluation of the modified polymeric materials against Gram (+) (S. aureus, E. faecalis, S. epidermidis) and Gram (-) (E. coli) bacteria as well as fungi (C. albicans) was performed. In addition, in vitro biocompatibility and cytotoxicity were evaluated via MTT assay using fibroblast (L929) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. Results suggested that the PCLs containing steroid and umbelliferone possess a promising future in drug delivery applications.