Synthesis of lipid-based amphiphilic block copolymer and its evaluation as nano drug carrier

•Lipid-based controlled amphiphilic block copolymer synthesized by RAFT polymerization.•Characterization studies confirmed the successful preparation of block copolymer.•Self-assembly of copolymer and successful incorporation of CBZ into polymeric micelles•Sustained drug release was observed by polymeric micelles.•Great potential to serve as renewable lipid-based nanocarriers

In current study, we report the synthesis and characterization of renewable fatty acid-based block copolymer. The block copolymer was synthesized via RAFT polymerization under microwave irradiations. Firstly, the homopolymer of N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) was prepared and used as a macro-CTA to copolymerize with modified stearic acid monomer (SAM). The characterization of copolymer p-DMA-b-SAM was done by 1H NMR, ATR-FTIR and GPC. The block copolymer was allowed to self-assemble and the entrapment of carbamazepine (CBZ) into hydrophobic core of polymeric micelles was investigated in aqueous media. A high drug entrapment efficiency (69%) was observed for block copolymer micelles. The spherical appearance of micelles in the size range of 20-70 nm was determined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). An effort was also made to investigate the in vitro release profile of CBZ from micelles. A sustained drug release rate was observed, showing complete release of drug within 70 h.

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