Amphiphilic block copolymers have garnered significant interest as vehicles for the controlled release of therapeutics. We have developed a modular approach for the rapid synthesis of a small library of amphiphilic block copolymers that uses the reactivity of poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone) (PVDMA). In this approach, a commercially available, PEG-based macromolecular chain transfer agent is used to mediate the RAFT polymerization of a VDMA block. The reactivity of the azlactone ring is then used for the post-polymerization modification of the PEG-<i>b</i>-PVDMA copolymers with a series of small molecule amines varying in hydrophobicity. This poster reports the synthesis and characterization of these block copolymers and demonstrates their assembly into micelles. We also demonstrate the release of model therapeutics from the block copolymer micelles. The results of this work suggest opportunities for custom synthesis of block copolymer micelles having properties useful in a broad range of drug delivery applications.

Post-polymerization modification of reactive, azlactone-functionalized block copolymers: Rapid synthesis of polymeric amphiphiles for the assembly of drug delivery vehicles

251st National Meeting (2016)

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