Amphiphilic Polymer Nanoparticles: Characterization and Assessment as New Drug Carriers

An amino-acid-based hydrophobically modified biocompatible copolymer, poly[(sodium N-acryloyl-L-valinate)-co-(N-octylacrylamide)] was synthesized and characterized. Techniques such as fluorescence probes, DLS, and TEM were used to investigate its aggregation behavior in aqueous solution. The copolymer was observed to form micellar aggregates having diameters in the nanometer range in aqueous solution (pH = 8) through inter-chain hydrophobic association. This behavior was found to be similar to that of poly[(sodium N-acryloyl-L-valinate)-co-(N-dodecylacrylamide)]. The compact micellar nanostructures were observed to be stable with respect to changes of pH and temperature. The encapsulation and release of griseofulvin, a hydrophobic model drug, was studied.