title: Synthesis and characterization of the biodegradable polycaprolactone-graft-chitosan amphiphilic copolymers.
abstract: A novel synthetic approach to biodegradable amphiphilic copolymers based on poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and chitosan was presented, and the prepared copolymers were used to prepare nanoparticles successfully. The PCL-graft-chitosan copolymers were synthesized by coupling the hydroxyl end-groups on preformed PCL chains and the amino groups present on 6-O-triphenylmethyl chitosan and by removing the protective 6-O-triphenylmethyl groups in acidic aqueous solution. The PCL content in the copolymers can be controlled in the range of 10-90 wt %. The graft copolymers were thoroughly characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR and DSC. The nanoparticles made from the graft copolymers were investigated by 1H NMR, DLS, AFM and SEM measurements. It was found that the copolymers could form spherical or elliptic nanoparticles in water. The amount of available primary amines on the surface of the prepared nanoparticles was evaluated by ninhydrin assay, and it can be controlled by the grafting degree of PCL.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wenshou
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xuesi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Xiabin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jing
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012995:Solubility; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C016240:polycaprolactone; D048271:Chitosan