Formation of Unimer Nanoparticles by Controlling the Self-Association of Hydrophobically Modified Poly(amino acid)s

• DOI: 10.1021/la205093j
• Publication Date: 2012-03-05T15:48:18Z
• Authors: Takami Akagi; Phassamon Piyapakorn; Mitsuru Akashi
• Keywords: Biopolymers; Spectrometry, Fluorescence; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Nanoparticles; Amino Acids; Particle Size; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Amphiphilic block or graft copolymers have been demonstrated to form a variety of self-assembled nano/microstructures in selective solvents. In this study, the self-association behavior biodegradable composed poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) as hydrophilic segment and L-phenylalanine (Phe) hydrophobic aqueous solution was investigated. The association unimer nanoparticle formation these γ-PGA-graft-Phe (γ-PGA-Phe) were characterized with focus on effect Phe grafting degree intra- interpolymer γ-PGA-Phe. particle size number polymer aggregates (N(agg)) one γ-PGA-Phe depended degree. 12, 27, 35, 42% (γ-PGA-Phe-12, -27, -35, -42) about 8-14 nm N(agg) 1, supporting presence unimolecular copolymer PBS. pyrene fluorescence data indicated that γ-PGA-Phe-35 -42 domains formed by intrapolymer attached γ-PGA. These results suggest is critical could nanoparticles. Moreover, when γ-PGA-Phe-42 dissolved DMSO added various concentrations NaCl solution, be easily controlled changing concentration during particles. useful for fabrication very small It expected nanoparticles, including particles, will great potential multifunctional carriers pharmaceutical biomedical applications, such drug vaccine delivery systems.