Synthesis and characterization of glucose-grafted biodegradable amphiphilic glycopolymers P(AGE-glucose)-b-PLA

Novel glucose-grafted biodegradable amphiphilic glycopolymers P(AGE-glucose)-b-PLA were synthesized through a facile and efficient way. First, the block copolymer intermediates PAGE-b-PLA bearing double bonds in the side chains were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of LA using PAGE as macroinitiator and Sn(Oct)2 as catalyst; Then, 2-mercaptoethyl-β-glucoside (MEGlu) was conjugated to the side chains of PAGE-b-PLA via free-radical coupling reaction to give the glycopolymer P(AGE-glucose)-b-PLA. The micellization behavior of the glycopolymers P(AGE-glucose)-b-PLA in aqueous media was investigated by fluorescence (FL), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results showed that these glycopolymers P(AGE-glucose)-b-PLA formed spherical micelles with diameters about 200 nm.