title: Nanocapsules based on linear and Y-shaped 3-miktoarm star-block PEO-PCL copolymers as sustained delivery system for hydrophilic molecules.
abstract: Well-defined amphiphilic Y-shaped miktoarm star-block copolymers of PEO and PCL were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone initiated by a PEO-bound lysine macroinitiator. The copolymers were characterized by (1)H NMR, SEC, DSC, and WAXD techniques. Separate PCL and PEO crystalline phases occur in melt-crystallized copolymers when their segmental lengths were comparable and the PCL content was ≤80 wt %. Self-assembling of these copolymers in aqueous medium led to nanoaggregates with low critical aggregation concentration values (0.35 to 1.6 mg·L(-1)) and size depending on composition. Despite the fact that copolymers were not prone to self-organize in vesicles, once processed by a novel w/o emulsion-melting-sonication technique, they gave nanocapsules with a water core and a hydrophilic surface. A macromolecular fluorescent dye was effectively loaded and released at sustained rate by optimizing nanocapsule formulation. The results demonstrate that amphiphilic block copolymers can be assembled in different kinds of nanomorphologies independently of their hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and architecture through specifically designed preparation techniques.
authors: Department of Chemistry Paolo Corradini, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. giovanni.maglio@unina.it
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Maglio
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Nicodemi
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Conte
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Palumbo
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Tirino
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Panza
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Ianaro
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Ungaro
authors: Fabiana
authors: F
authors: Quaglia
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002208:Caproates / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002208:Caproates; D007783:Lactones; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C458722:polyethylene oxide-polycaprolactone copolymer; C121056:caprolactone; D008239:Lysine