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Alkyne-terminated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) has been synthesized via ROP at room temperature. Amphiphilic PLGA-b-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP) block copolymers have been synthesized via alkyne-azide click reaction of it with azide-terminated PNVPs prepared by RAFT polymerization of NVP using an azide-terminated RAFT agent. 1H NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) confirmed the formation of block copolymers. Self-assembly of these block copolymers was confirmed by fluorescence study using pyrene as a probe and supported by 1H NMR, DLS and TEM studies. Hydrophobic drug doxorubicin was successfully encapsulated at the micellar core of PLGA46-b-PNVP89 with drug-loading content (DLC) and drug-loading efficiency (DLE) of 10.8 and 43.2 %, respectively. Sustained drug release of these drug-loaded micelles was observed at both pH of 6.4 and 7.4. Faster drug release was observed at pH 6.4. Such PLGA-b-PNVP amphiphilic block copolymer may find extensive application in sustained drug delivery, specifically in antitumor drug delivery.

Some physical properties of high molecular weight linear poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)s (PNIPAM) having different isotacticities (m, meso dyad = 47, 62, 68, 81, and 88 %) have been studied. The solubility of these polymers in different solvents varied with their isotacticity. Thermal degradation of higher isotactic polymer started slightly earlier. Cloud point of these polymers in water gradually decreased with increase in m up to 68 %. Surface tension of these polymers in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was slightly lower than DMF and almost independent of their isotacticity in the temperature range of 20–60 °C. But it decreased linearly with the increase in temperature. Moreover, for all polymers, it decreased very slightly with the increase in their concentrations in the range of 0.001–0.01 % (w/v). Viscosity of these polymers in DMF increased with (i) the increase in the concentration range of 1–5 % (w/v), (ii) the increase in their m values, and (iii) the decrease in the temperature in the range of 20–60 oC.