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Self‐Assembly of a Hydrophobic Polypeptide Containing a Short Hydrophilic Middle Segment: Vesicles to Large Compound Micelles
Author(s) -
Sun Jing,
Shi Quan,
Chen Xuesi,
Guo Jinshan,
Jing Xiabin
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200800018
Subject(s) - micelle , chemistry , dynamic light scattering , vesicle , polymer chemistry , polymerization , aqueous solution , polymer , organic chemistry , materials science , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , membrane , biochemistry
This report describes a facile route to prepare the vesicles and large compound micelles (LCMs) from a series of poly( ε ‐benzyloxycarbonyl L ‐lysine)‐ block ‐poly[diethylene glycol bis (3‐amino propyl) ether]‐ block ‐poly( ε ‐benzyloxycarbonyl L ‐lysine) (PZLL‐DGBE‐PZLL) in their water solution, depending on molecular weight of the polypeptides. A pyrene probe is used to demonstrate the aggregate formation of PZLL‐DGBE‐PZLL in solution, and also to measure their critical micelle concentration as a function of molecular weight of the polymer. Transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering and confocal laser scanning microscopy are used to observe their aggregate morphologies. Rhodamine B is used as a fluorescent probe to confirm the structure of large compound micelles composed of many reverse micelles with aqueous cores. These polypeptides are prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of α ‐amino acid N ‐carboxyanhydrides with a small molecule as the initiator. Their structures are confirmed by NMR and SEC‐MALLS. These vesicles and large compound micelles are extremely expected to be used in drug delivery.