Self-assembly of poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline-)-g-poly(d, l-lactide) copolymers. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Le Fer, Gaëlle; Le Cœur, Clémence; Guigner, Jean-Michel; Amiel, Catherine; Volet, Gisèle
• Is Part Of: European polymer journal. Volume 88(2017)
• Page Start: 656
• Page End: 665
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; Polymerization; Polymers; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2016.10.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3057

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Synthesis of P(MeOx- co -PentOx)- g -PLA by combination of CROP and click-chemistry. Preparation of nanoparticles from graft copolymer by nanoprecipitation. Nanoparticles morphologies elucidated by SANS and Cryo-TEM. Various morphologies: polymersomes, core-shell and homogenous spherical nano-objects. Influence of the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance and molecular weight of the PLA grafts. Abstract: In this article, is reported for the first time the preparation of nanoparticles from graft copolymer composed of a hydrophilic backbone made of poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline- co -2-pentyl-2-oxazoline) and hydrophobic poly(d, l-lactide) grafts. The copolymers were synthesized by the grafting- onto approach through the Huisgen 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The success of the reaction was confirmed by 1 H NMR, FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Different copolymers were prepared from two molecular weight backbones (5.7 × 10 3 and 14.2 × 10 3 g mol −1 ) giving graft copolymers with molecular weight in the range of 3.7 × 10 4 to 11.3 × 10 4 g mol −1 . These copolymers self-assembled to form nanoparticles in water. Nanoparticles of spherical shape and various morphologies, going from polymersomes to core-shell and homogenous spherical nano-objects, were imaged by cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS).