Micellization phenomena of amphiphilic block copolymers based on methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) and either crystalline or amorphous poly(caprolactone-b-lactide)

Biomacromolecules. 2006 Sep;7(9):2492-500. doi: 10.1021/bm0601732.

Abstract

This study focuses on the aggregation behavior of the biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymers based on methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) as a hydrophilic block and either crystalline poly(caprolactone-b-l-lactide) (P(CL-LLA)) or amorphous poly(caprolactone-b-D,L-lactide) (P(CL-DLLA)) as a hydrophobic block. These block copolymers have a strong tendency to form micelles in aqueous medium, with very low critical micelle concentrations (CMCs). The CMC of P(CL-LLA)-b-mPEG is higher than that of P(CL-DLLA)-b-mPEG when the mPEG block has the same molecular weight. Furthermore, the partition equilibrium coefficient (K(v)) of pyrene in the micellar solution of P(CL-LLA)-b-mPEG copolymer was lower than that of P(CL-DLLA)-b-mPEG copolymer when the mPEG block was the same length. These differences were believed to be related to the physical state of the core-forming blocks, i.e., the crystalline P(CL-LLA) block and the amorphous P(CL-DLLA) block. The TEM images showed that micelles formed by P(CL-LLA)-b-mPEG assembled in a cylindrical morphology, whereas those formed by P(CL-DLLA)-b-mPEG took a classical spherical shape. In addition, with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analyses, it is believed that the crystallization tendency of the core-forming blocks is the main factor governing the morphology of micelles in water. A possible mechanism for the cylindrical assembly morphology was discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biotechnology / methods*
  • Calorimetry, Differential Scanning
  • Crystallization
  • Kinetics
  • Micelles*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Particle Size
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Pyrenes
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Temperature
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Micelles
  • Polyesters
  • Polymers
  • Pyrenes
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • lactide-caprolactone copolymer
  • monomethoxypolyethylene glycol