Thermosensitive nanocontainers prepared from poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-(hydroxylmethyl) acrylamide)-g-poly(lactide)

Thermally-responsive graft copolymer of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-(hydroxylmethyl)acrylamide)-g-poly(lactide) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide (LA). The polymerization was initiated by the hydroxy group of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-N-(hydroxylmethyl) acrylamide), using stannous octoate as catalyst. The resulting polymer was temperature-sensitive and the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) was affected by their composition. The chemical structure and physical properties of the grafted copolymers were investigated by various methods. Nanocontainers formed from the self-assembly of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-(hydroxylmethyl) acrylamide)-g-poly(lactide) were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and a spherical structure was observed. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) results indicate that the particle size increased with the increase of polylactide content in the copolymer. The properties of this polymer are interesting for both industrial application and fundamental research. In particular it will combine a spatial specificity in a passive manner and a temperature-responsive active targeting mechanism for drug delivery system.