Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(valerolactone) (PEO-b-PVL copolymer) was synthesized with organocatalyst triazabicyclodecene (TBD) by �living� ring-opening polymerization (ROP). PEO-b-PVL copolymers were then used as arms to form PEO-b-PVL star polymer by using cross-linker bioxypanyldione (BOD). 1H NMR and GPC results verified the success of 2-step synthesis protocol. Afterwards, the synthesized PEO-b-PVL star polymers were applied to entrap curcumin, a multifunctional nutraceutical with low bioavailability. Through UV-Vis spectroscopy, we determined that the cargo size of this particular PEO-b-PVL star polymer (Mn=1423 kDa) is 240 curcumin molecules per star polymer and the encapsulation efficiency is 75%. With this particular star polymer, the solubility of curcumin in water can go up to more than 1.4 mg/ml, which is 127273 fold higher than pure curcumin in water. The in vitro release profile show a slow release at stomach pH and quick release at intestinal pH, indicating that curcumin-star complex is a suitable nutraceutical delivery system.

Delivery of nutraceuticals using biocompatible poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(valerolactone)-based star polymer

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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