Block copolymer micelles for drug delivery: design, characterization and biological significance

Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery devices

Block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly has attracted considerable attention for many decades because it can yield ordered structures in a wide range of morphologies, including spheres, cylinders, bicontinuous structures, lamellae, vesicles, and many other complex or hierarchical assemblies. These aggregates provide potential or practical applications in many fields. The present tutorial review introduces the primary principles of BCP self-assembly in bulk and in solution, by describing experiments, theories, accessible morphologies and morphological transitions, factors affecting the morphology, thermodynamics and kinetics, among others. As one specific example at a more advanced level, BCP vesicles (polymersomes) and their potential applications are discussed in some detail.

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Self-assembly of block copolymers

1: Magnetic Particles: Preparation, Properties and Applications: M. Ozaki. 2: Maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3): A Versatile Magnetic Colloidal Material C.J. Serna, M.P. Morales. 3: Dynamics of Adsorption and Oxidation of Organic Molecules on Illuminated Titanium Dioxide Particles Immersed in Water M.A. Blesa, R.J. Candal, S.A. Bilmes. 4: Colloidal Aggregation in Two-Dimensions A. Moncho-Jorda, F. Martinez-Lopez, M.A. Cabrerizo-Vilchez, R. Hidalgo Alvarez, M. Quesada-PMerez. 5: Kinetics of Particle and Protein Adsorption Z. Adamczyk.

Surface and Colloid Science

http://wwwcourses.sens.buffalo.edu/ce435/Riess03.pdf

Micellization of block copolymers

Abstract α-Carboxyl end-functionalized poly(methylidene malonates 2.1.2) were prepared by free-radical polymerization in the molecular weight range 5 000 - 10 000 by using 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid) as a functional initiator. A functionality of one carboxyl group per chain could be obtained. On the contrary, it was demonstrated that chain transfer functionalization with mercaptans is not applicable in this case. A Michael addition reaction between the mercaptan and the monomer becomes the predominant side-reaction. The corresponding mercaptanmonomer adduct was characterized in detail by 1H and 13C NMR.

Gérard Riess

Papers

Synthesis and characterization of carboxyl endfunctionalized poly(methylidene malonate 2.1.2)