Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable amphiphilic triblock copolymers containing L-glutamic acid units

A novel biodegradable amphiphilic triblock copolymer bearing pendant carboxyl groups PLGG-PEG-PLGG was successfully prepared by ring-opening copolymerization of l-lactide (LA) with (3s)-benzoxylcarbonylethyl-morpholine-2, 5-dione (BEMD) in the presence of dihydroxyl poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a macroinitiator in bulk at 130 degrees C using SnOct(2) as catalyst and by subsequent catalytic hydrogenation. The copolymer could form micelles in aqueous solution with the cmc dependent on the composition of the copolymer. The micelles exhibited a homogeneous spherical morphology and a unimodal size distribution. Their degradation rate in the presence of proteinase K was faster than that of PLA, and they showed a low degree of cytotoxicity to the articular cartilage cells. This biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymer with pendant carboxyl groups is capable of further modification and is expected to facilitate a variety of potential biomedical applications, such as drug carriers, tissue engineering, etc.