Co-micellization conduct and structural dynamics of block copolymers in water and salt solution environment for drug solubilization enhancement

The present study examines the co-micellization in different block copolymers (BCPs): P123 and F127 (with almost similar hydrophobic PO block but different hydrophilic %EO content). In varying concentration and in presence of NaCl, these BCP solutions in single and mix system displayed a variety of phases, i.e., blue point (BP), thermoreversible gel formation and cloud point (CP) with a noticeable sol-gel phase transition shift. The nanoscale micellar size distribution expressed as hydrodynamic diameter (D-h) was evaluated using dynamic light scattering (DLS). As F127 is larger than P123 and contains more EO groups, the micelle corona appears larger with greater D-h. The scattering profile from small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) offered information into the micellar dimensions employing SasView 4.2.2 program. The quercetin (QCT) solubilization articulated in encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and drug loading (DL%) followed the enhancement order: P123 > (P123 + F127) > F127 which was inferred from spectral and microscopy study.