Synthesis and micellization of a new amphiphilic star-shaped poly(D,L-lactide)/polyphosphoester block copolymer

A new amphiphilic 4-arm star-shaped poly(D,L-lactide)/poly(ethyl ethylene phosphate) (ssPLA-b-PEEP) block copolymer was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of ethyl ethylene phosphate (EEP) with hydroxyl terminated 4-arm star-shaped poly(D,L-lactide) (ssPLA) as a macroinitiator, which was prepared by ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide (LA) initiated by pentaerythrite using stannous octoate as catalyst. The structures of the block copolymers were confirmed by IR, 1H-NMR and GPC analysis. Fluorescence measurements were applied to determine the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the copolymer micelle solutions. The diameter and the distribution of micelles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and the shape was perceived by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicated those copolymers formed nano-micelles in aqueous solution with hydrophobic poly(D,L-lactide) core and hydrophilic poly(ethyl ethylene phosphate) shell. The CMC of the copolymer solutions increased with the increments of the proportion of PEEP segments. TEM images demonstrated that all micelles were spherical.