Synthesis of poly(4-methylphenoxyphosphazene)-graft-poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) copolymers and their micelle formation in water

Poly(4-methylphenoxyphosphazene)-graft-poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) was prepared, and micelle formation of the copolymer in water was studied. Poly(dichlorophosphazene) of a low molecular weight (<10(4)) was obtained by the thermal polymerization of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene in the presence of aluminum chloride (10 wt %); The chloro groups were replaced by 4-methylphenoxy groups, and then methyl groups were brominated. The brominated unit content was controlled to be 5% and 20%. The brominated polymers were used as macroinitiators for polymerization of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline to give amphiphilic graft copolymers. Micelle formation of the copolymers in water was investigated by measuring surface tensions and a fluorescence study. The micelles were found to solubilize hydrophobic pyrene in water effectively in the fluorescence study and expected to use as drug carriers.