Triblock copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(butylene oxide)-block-poly(e-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PBO-b-PCL)  were prepared for comparative studies of micelle formation and relative stability compared to the parent PEG-b-PCL diblock copolymer micelles. Block copolymers self-assembled in water to form spherical micelles that were characterized by DLS and TEM. Kinetics of acid catalyzed hydrolysis of the ester groups that bind the hydrophobic PCL segment with either -PEG or -PBO units were evaluated by 1H NMR. Substantially smaller rates for degradation are observed for micelles formed from the PEG-b-PBO-b-PCL triblock copolymers compared to micelles from PEG-b-PCL diblock copolymers.   Mechanistic models for acid catalyzed micelle degradation and PCL ester hydrolysis will be presented.

Preparation of triblock PEG-b-PBO-b-PCL and diblock PEG-b-PCL copolymers: Micelle formation and acid catalyzed hydrolysis

244th National Meeting (2012)

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