Self-assembled micelles prepared from amphiphilic Dextran-Jeffamine diblock copolymers

Abstract The creation of Dextran-Jeffamine (DEX-JEF) amphiphilic block polymers was achieved through the process of reductive amination. This synthesis involved reacting the semi-acetal terminal of the hydrophilic dextran (DEX) with the amine termini of Jeffamine (JEF), which could be in monoamine, diamine, or triamine forms. The result was a collection of block copolymers that included diblock, triblock, and triarm structures, each with distinct hydrophilic ratios and varying block lengths. These polymers were thoroughly analyzed by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to determine their structural characteristics. After the DEX-JEF polymer was self-assembled into micelles in a water medium, the micellar structure, dimensions, and zeta potential were analyzed by using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) techniques. Furthermore, the stability of the micelles was assessed by determining the Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) through fluorescence spectroscopy measurements. Finally, the drug-carrying properties of the polymer micelles were also evaluated. The results showed that the micelle sizes ranged from 104.6-202.1 nm, CMC ranging from 0.04-0.28 mg/mL, and drug loading ranging from 4.71-7.16%. It is expected to be a potential drug carrier.