Synthesis and Characterization of Thermo-responsive Poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Micelles

A novel thermo-responsive diblock copolymer of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone)-block-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNVP-b-PNIPAM) was synthesized. FT-IR, ¹H-NMR and SEC results confirmed the successful synthesis of PNVP-b-PNIPAM diblock copolymer via anionic polymerization. The polymeric micelles formed from PNVP-b-PNIPAM copolymer in aqueous solution were developed and characterized as a potential thermo-responsive and biocompatible drug delivery system. Micellization of the diblock copolymer in aqueous solution was characterized by dynamic laser scattering (DLS), turbidity measurement, tension measurement and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermo-responsive polymeric micelles with the size ranges of 200 to 260 nm and thickness of 30 nm are localized, selected and targeted for drug release, having a great potential in response to external-stimulus such as temperatures from 35 to 39°C. The critical micellization concentration (cmc) of PNVP-b-PNIPAM in aqueous solution is 0.0026 wt% determined by turbidity measurement. The size of micelles determined by DLS increased from 163 to 329 nm with increasing concentration of PNVP-b-PNIPAM from 0.25 to 0.5 wt% in aqueous solution at 40°C, which is determined by DLS.