Table 3.

Theoretical micelle diameters d_micelle of diblock copolymers and experimental nanoparticle diameters $\overline{d_{\mathrm{m}}}$ in 90 mL of H₂O and 10 mL of THF

BCP	PS(10k)-b-PEG(5k)		PCL(12k)-b-PEG(5k)		PLA(10k)-b-PEG(5k)		PLGA(10k)-b-PEG(5k)
Cal. dmicelle (nm)a	21b		19c		23d, e		--g
Saline (1 wt%)	w/o	w/	w/o	w/	w/o	w/	w/o	w/
Exp. $\overline{d_{\mathrm{m}}}$ (nm)	25	30	147	--	20	--f	34	41
Stable (Y/N)	Y	Y	N	N	Y	N	Y	Y

^aAssuming micelles are spherical, although very unlikely with such a block ratio of about 2. Estimated by 4×(R_{g, PEG}+R_{g, hydrophobic block}), R_{g, PEG(5k)} = 2.58 nm based on Reference [30]

^bR_{g, PS(10k)} = 2.68 nm in a molten state based on Reference [30]

^cR_{g, PCL(12k)} = 2.21 nm in a bulk state based on Reference [35]

^dR_{g, PLA(10k)} = 3.23 nm in a bulk state based on Reference [36], 3.09 nm in a molten state based on Reference [37]

^eExperimental d_micelle =26 nm without saline and 28 nm with 1 wt% of saline in the THF/H₂O=1 mixture measured by DLS

^fDLS showed a peak at 29 nm. But large suspended particles out of the detection limit can be visually observed, which had to be larger than 10 μm

^gNo reference value has been found. But it is expected to be comparable with the value of its analog, PLA(10k)-b-PEG(5k), about 23 nm