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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions
Published on: October 10, 2016
pH-Sensitive Micelles Based on Star Copolymer Ad-(PCL-b-PDEAEMA-b-PPEGMA)₄ for Controlled Drug Delivery
Huiyan Yang1,2, Jianwei Guo3, Rui Tong4
1School of Chemical Engineering & Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China. huiyanyang1991@163.com.
Abstract:
Enhancing drug loading efficacy and stability of polymeric micelles remains a grand challenge. Here we develop adamantane-based star copolymers adamantane-[poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)]₄ (Ad-(PCL-b-PDEAEMA-b-PPEGMA)₄) and their self-assembled micelles for controlled drug delivery. Results show that the polymers have excellent stability in solution with low critical micelle concentration (CMC) (0.0025⁻0.0034 mg/mL) and the apparent base dissociation constant (pKb) of the polymers is from 5.31 to 6.05. Dynamic light scattering analysis exhibits the great environmental response capability of the pH-sensitive micelles according to particle sizes and zeta potentials. With the synergy effect of the adamantane and hydrophobic block, the micelles display the high Doxorubicin (DOX) loading efficacy (up to 22.4%). The DOX release study shows that the micelles are capable of controlled release for drug. This work indicates the Ad-(PCL-b-PDEAEMA-b-PPEGMA)₄ micelles may provide new guidelines for drug control and release system in overcoming cancer treatment.
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