Phosphoric Acid Triester Micelles: Characterization and Self-Assembly.

Area of Science:

• * Polymer Chemistry
• * Materials Science
• * Nanotechnology

Background:

• * Amphiphilic molecules are crucial for self-assembly in aqueous environments.
• * Biodegradable polymers offer sustainable alternatives in various applications.
• * Phospholipid-like structures are of interest for drug delivery systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To synthesize and characterize novel amphiphilic alkyldi(methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MePEG)350-lactate) phosphates.
• * To investigate the self-assembly behavior and micelle formation of these esters.
• * To evaluate their potential for drug encapsulation and controlled release.

Main Methods:

• * Synthesis of alkyldi(MePEG350-lactate) phosphates.
• * Dynamic light scattering for micelle size and stability analysis.
• * Solubilization tests with Sudan III and doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox·HCl).

Main Results:

• * The synthesized esters self-assembled into micelles in aqueous solutions.
• * Dodecyl and hexadecyl di(MePEG350-lactate) phosphate successfully encapsulated Dox·HCl.
• * Micelles exhibited stability for 5-7 days in phosphate-buffered saline.
• * Dox·HCl release rates were dose-dependent, reaching up to 100% by 28 days.

Conclusions:

• * Amphiphilic alkyldi(MePEG350-lactate) phosphates are promising self-assembling materials.
• * These esters can form stable micelles capable of encapsulating hydrophobic drugs.
• * The controlled release of Dox·HCl suggests potential for drug delivery applications.