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PUBLICATIONS

Formation of Disk- and Stacked Disk-Like Self-Assembled Morphologies from Cholesterol Functionalized Aliphatic Polycarbonate Containing Amphiphilic Diblock Copolymers

Published

Author(s)

Vivek M. Prabhu, Shrinivas Venkataraman, Ashlynn Lee, Yi Yan Yang, James Hedrick, Hareem Maune

Abstract

In this study, a cholesterol functionalized aliphatic cyclic carbonate monomer, 2-(5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxane-5-carboxyloyloxy)ethyl carbamate (MTC-Chol) was synthesized. The organo-catalytic ring opening polymerization of MTC-Chol was accomplished by using N-(3,5-trifuluoromethyl)phenyl-N′-cyclohexylthiourea (TU) in combinations with bases such as 1,8 diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and (-) sparteine and kinetics of polymerization was monitored. By using mPEG-OH as the macro-initiator, well-defined amphiphilic diblock copolymers mPEG113-b-P(MTC-Chol)n (n = 4 and 11) were synthesized. Under aqueous conditions, these block copolymers self-assembled to form unique nanostructures. Disk-like micelles and stacked disk morphology were observed for mPEG113-b-P(MTC-Chol)4 and mPEG113-b-P(MTC-Chol)11, respectively by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Small angle neutron scattering support the disk-like morphology and estimate the block copolymer micelle aggregation number in the dispersed solution. The hydrophobic nature of the cholesterol-containing block provides a versatile self-assembly handle to form complex nanostructures using biodegradable and biocompatible polymers that are platforms for novel drug delivery vehicles.
Citation
Small
Volume
46
Pub Type
Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

polymer, block copolymer, neutron scattering, drug delivery, micelle, structure, cholesterol, PEG, SANS
Chemistry, Materials and Neutron research

Citation

Prabhu, V. , Venkataraman, S. , Lee, A. , , Y. , Hedrick, J. and Maune, H. (2013), Formation of Disk- and Stacked Disk-Like Self-Assembled Morphologies from Cholesterol Functionalized Aliphatic Polycarbonate Containing Amphiphilic Diblock Copolymers, Small, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/ma400423b (Accessed October 14, 2025)

Issues

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Created June 10, 2013, Updated November 10, 2018
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