Study on Synthesis of Star Poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-polylysine Copolymer, Characterization and Its Micelles’ Properties
Shao He-Wei
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Analysis of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China
Xue Rong
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Analysis of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China
Zeng Yong-Jun
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Analysis of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
Zhao Qian
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Analysis of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China
Zhang Shi-Yu
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Analysis of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China
Han Xiao-Yan *
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Analysis of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
Zhang Yi
Department of Experimental Teaching, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Four-armed star poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) terminated with carboxy group was prepared by two-step reaction. The carboxy group of star PCL was activated and chemically conjugated to the amine group of PLL (polylysine) to produce sPCL-b-PLL copolymer. The structure of final product and the intermediates were characterized by IR and 1H NMR. The sPCL-b-PLL copolymer can self-assemble into micelle in aqueous solution. The CMC (critical micelle concentration) of micelle ranged from 7.603 × 10-4 to 2.638 × 10-4 mg.mL-1 for different sPCL-b-PLL copolymer. In addition, Curcumin as a hydrophobic drug can be entrapped in the sPCL-b-PLL micelle. The results indicated that the micelle exhibited 9.431% loading capacity for Curcumin, and it can be used as a potential delivery carrier for the hydrophobic drug.
Keywords: Star amphiphilic block polymer, poly (ε-caprolactone)-b-polylysine, biodegradable material, polymer micelles, curcumin