Issue 4, 2017

Amphiphilic star-shaped poly(sarcosine)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) diblock copolymers: one-pot synthesis, characterization, and solution properties

Abstract

Amphiphilic star-shaped block copolymers with biodegradable and biocompatible sequences are attracting increasing attention in biomaterials. Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization, solution properties, and biocompatibility of amphiphilic three-armed star-shaped poly(sarcosine)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (s-PSar-b-PCL) diblock copolymers. Tris-(2-aminoethyl)amine initiated ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of sarcosine N-carboxyanhydrides in a controlled manner, yielding star-shaped poly(sarcosine)s (s-PSars) with predictable molecular weights (from 3.3 to 9.8 kg mol−1) and narrow dispersities (ĐM < 1.1). Well-defined amphiphilic s-PSar-b-PCL diblock copolymers were synthesized by ROP of ε-caprolactone using s-PSars as the macroinitiators in one pot. The obtained s-PSars and s-PSar-b-PCL diblock copolymers were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MALDI-ToF MS, and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Intrinsic viscosities ([η]) of the s-PSar and s-PSar-b-PCL were estimated using SEC-MALS-VISC-DRI. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the s-PSar-b-PCL diblock copolymers self-assembled into spherical aggregates with average hydrodynamic diameters of 56–169 nm in aqueous solution. MTT assays (cell viability test) certified the biosafety (relative cell viability >80%) of the copolymers and their self-assembled nanostructures. Taken together, we (i) synthesized the novel s-PSar-b-PCL diblock copolymers, (ii) investigated the solution properties of the s-PSar-b-PCLs and s-PSars, and (iii) demonstrated the biocompatibility of s-PSar-b-PCLs.

Graphical abstract: Amphiphilic star-shaped poly(sarcosine)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) diblock copolymers: one-pot synthesis, characterization, and solution properties

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Aug 2016
Accepted
01 Dec 2016
First published
02 Dec 2016

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2017,5, 679-690

Amphiphilic star-shaped poly(sarcosine)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) diblock copolymers: one-pot synthesis, characterization, and solution properties

S. Cui, X. Pan, H. Gebru, X. Wang, J. Liu, J. Liu, Z. Li and K. Guo, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2017, 5, 679 DOI: 10.1039/C6TB02145J

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