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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions
Published on: October 10, 2016
Chromatographic characterization of amphiphilic di- and tri-block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and
Muhammad Irfan1, Adnan Murad Bhayo1, Syed Ghulam Musharraf1
1H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
Abstract:
Amphiphilic di- and tri-block copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide) as a hydrophilic segment and poly(ε-caprolactone) as a hydrophobic part are synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone while using poly(ethylene glycol)s and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)s of varying molar masses as macro-initiators. The synthesized block copolymers are characterized with respect to their total relative molar mass and its distribution by size exclusion chromatography. Liquid chromatography at critical conditions of both blocks is established for the analysis of individual block lengths and tracking presence of unwanted homopolymers of both types in the block copolymer samples. New critical conditions of polycaprolactone on reversed phase column are reported using organic mobile phase. The established critical conditions of polycaprolactone extended the applicable molar mass range significantly compared to already reported critical conditions of polycaprolactone in aqueous mobile phase. Block copolymers are also analyzed at critical conditions of poly(ethylene glycol). Complete analysis of the di- and tri-block copolymers at corresponding critical conditions provided a fair estimate of molar mass of non-critical block besides information regarding presence of homopolymers of both types in the samples.
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