Evolution of Micelle Structure in Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(γ-methyl-ε-caprolactone) Block Copolymers

摘要

The increased utilization of self-assembled nanoscale aggregates as drug delivery vehicles has motivated the progressive design of amphiphiles suited for biomedical applications. Micelles exhibiting biocompatibility and biodegradability can be generated through the integration of specific hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers, while the tailoring of aggregate morphology has been shown tractable through control of amphiphile composition. Here we outline the spherical, cylindrical, and bilayered vesicle structures generated from the self-assembly of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(γ-methyl-ε-caprolactone) (OMCL) diblock copolymers in water. The micelles, comprised of a biocompatible corona and an amorphous, low T_g, aliphatic polyester core, were formed at moderate temperatures without the use of a cosolvent.