Synthesis of Amphiphilic Polyesters: Ring-Opening Copolymerization of PEG-Functionalized Epoxides and Cyclic Anhydrides for Polymeric Micelle Formation

Polymeric micelles have garnered substantial attention as a potential drug delivery system due to their distinctive core-shell architecture. This structure makes them soluble in water while offering a hydrophobic core that is well-suited for transporting hydrophobic medications. In this study, facially amphiphilic polyesters P(TPSA-co-PEGPO) and P(DDSA-co-PEGPO) were synthesized through a ring-opening copolymerization reaction of PEG-functionalized epoxides and cyclic anhydrides. The synthesized polyesters were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and FT-IR techniques. The amphiphiles were self-organized in water to form micelles. The self-assembly behavior of the polymeric micellar in aqueous medium was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The fluorescence measurements were conducted using pyrene as a probe to establish the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the micelles, while DLS showed that these micelles were within the nano size range. Transmission electron microscopy images confirmed that the micelles had a spherical shape. Future research will aim to analyze the drug loading capacity and release profiles to better determine their appropriateness for biomedical applications.