Polymeric Micelles Based on Poly(citric acid)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(citric acid) Copolymer: Synthesis and Characterization

Abstract

Novel amphiphilic block copolymers poly(citric acid)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(citric acid), (PCA-PLA-PCA), were synthesized by melt polycondensation reaction of citric acid and hydroxyl telechelic poly(L-lactide). The chemical structure of the resulting copolymers was characterized by various analytical techniques. DSC data showed the higher glass transition and melting temperature for copolymer suggesting increased crystallinity confirmed by X-ray diffraction data. The effects of the segment length of both the PLA and the PCA portions on the sizes of the PCA-PLA-PCA polymeric micelles were investigated. The results indicated that the size of the polymeric micelle reflects the chain length of both types of segments in the copolymer.

Keywords:

• Chemical synthesis
• Nanostructures
• Polymeric micelles

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to Industrial Connection Office of University of Tabriz for financial supports and Dr. Mohsen Adeli for his efficient collaborations.

Notes

^a1HNMR in CDCl₃.

^b Number of lactide units.

^a Co-initiator/_L-lactide molar ratio.

^b PLA/citric acid molar ratio.

^c1H NMR in d ₆-DMSO.