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Self‐Assembly of Amphiphilic Block Copolypeptoids with C 2 ‐C 5 Side Chains in Aqueous Solution
Author(s) -
Fetsch Corinna,
Flecks Silvana,
Gieseler Dan,
Marschelke Claudia,
Ulbricht Juliane,
van Pée KarlHeinz,
Luxenhofer Robert
Publication year - 2015
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.201400534
Subject(s) - amphiphile , micelle , chemistry , pyrene , dynamic light scattering , polymersome , copolymer , aqueous solution , polymer chemistry , self assembly , polymer , critical micelle concentration , moiety , fluorescence spectroscopy , side chain , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , fluorescence , nanoparticle , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
Nowadays, amphiphilic molecules play an important role in our life. In medical applications, amphiphilic block copolymers have attracted much attention as excipients in drug delivery systems. Here, the polymers are used as emulsifiers, micelles, or polymersomes with a hydrophilic corona block and a hydrophobic core or membrane. The aggregation behavior in aqueous solutions of a series of different amphiphilic block copolypeptoids comprising polysarcosine as a hydrophilic part is here reported. The formation of aggregates is investigated with 1 H NMR spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering, and the determination of the critical micelle concentration (cmc) is performed using pyrene fluorescence spectroscopy. For the different block copolypeptoids cmc values ranging from 0.6 × 10 −6 m to 0.1 × 10 −3 m are found. The tendency to form micelles increases with increasing hydrophobicity at the nitrogen side chain in the hydrophobic moiety. Furthermore, in the case of the same hydrophobic side chain, a decreasing hydrophilic/lipophilic balance leads to the formation of larger aggregates. The aggregates formed in the buffer are able to solubilize the hydrophobic model compounds Reichardt's dye and pyrene, and exhibit versatile microenvironments. Final investigations about the cytotoxicity reveal that the block copolypeptoids are well tolerated by mammalian cells up to high concentrations.