Aqueous solution properties of amphiphilic triblock copolymer poly(p-dioxanone-co-L-lactide)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)

A poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based new amphiphilic block copolymer bearing the poly(p-dioxanone-CO-L-lactide) (PPDO/PLLA) hydrophobic moieties was prepared. Depending on the copolymer composition and molecular weights, solubility of the polymeric samples in water was varied. Its diluted aqueous solution properties were studied by viscometry, dye solubilization, H-1-NMR and dynamic light scattering. 1,6-Diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene solubilization and H-1-NMR spectra carried out in CDCl3 and D2O were used to prove the existence of hydrophobic domains as the core of micelle. Average particle size of 60-165 nm with low polydispersity and lower negative zeta (xi) potential of -3 to -14 mV were observed on the aqueous copolymer dispersion. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.