Nanoarchitectonics and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Poly (Chlorophenyl Maleimide) Based Block Copolymers With Poly(N‐Vinylpyrrolidone): Micellization Dynamics and Anticancer Potential

ABSTRACT Poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP) and its block copolymers with chlorophenylmaleimide monomers (chloro group substituted at ortho OCPMI, meta MCPMI, and para PCPMI positions) were synthesized using ethyl (S)‐2‐(ethyl isobutyrate)‐(O‐ethyl xanthate) (EIEX) as a xanthate mediator. The resulting block copolymers PNVP‐ b ‐POCPMI (ortho‐chlorophenyl maleimide), PNVP‐ b ‐PMCPMI (meta‐chlorophenyl maleimide), and PNVP‐ b ‐PPCPMI (para‐chlorophenyl maleimide) were characterized using 1 H NMR, FTIR, DSC, TGA‐DTA, GPC, and XRD. These block copolymers, with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, were found to self‐assemble into nanoparticles in aqueous solutions, which were further studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Cytotoxicity was assessed via the MTT assay on Dalton's lymphoma (DL) cells treated with polymer concentrations ranging from 5 to 100 μM. Nuclear morphological changes in Dalton's lymphoma (DL) cells were analyzed using DAPI and AO/EtBr staining. The block copolymers demonstrated anticancer activity, with higher cell viability observed at increased polymer concentrations, suggesting their potential for future development in human anticancer therapies.