Synthesis and Self-assembly Behavior of Chiral Amphiphilic Diblock Copolymers Bearing L-phenylalanine

Novel chiral amphiphilic diblock copolymers bearing L-phenylalanine was synthesized using a "click" reaction of N3-L-phenylalanine and MPEO-b-PGPE. The structure and composition of copolymers were characterized by 1H-NMR and elemental analysis. Additionally, the self-assembly behavior of these chiral copolymers was investigated in sodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (pH 4.5): the CMC of copolymer MPEO-b-PGTP determined by the measurement of surface tension was 2.1 mg/mL; the size and morphology of the micelles were studied using TEM; the specific optical rotation ([alpha]25D) of the micellar solutions was also measured; the result indicated that the copolymers can form chiral micelles in sodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (pH = 4.5).