Synthesis and characterization of novel poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) derivatives tailored for the preparation of nanoparticles of pharmaceutical interest

Four poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) derivatives bearing at one end specific groups were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of the corresponding gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride using different amine-terminated initiators. These moieties were chosen to introduce, on demand, specific functionalities in nanoparticles of pharmaceutical interest. The PBLG and PBLG derivatives were characterized by H-1 NMR, viscosimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Nanoparticles smaller than 100 mn in diameter could be easily prepared from these PBLG derivatives by slight modification of a known nanoprecipitation technique. (c) 2006 Society of Chemical Industry.