Table 1.
Characteristics of the synthesized TPGS-b-PCL copolymers and their self-assembled nanocarriers.
| Block Copolymer a | Theoretical Molecular Weight (g/mol) |
Mn (g/mol) b | Mn (g/mol) c | Đ d | Diameter e (nm) | Polydispersity e | CAC f (µM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPGS1000 | 1513 | - | - | - | - | - | 132.2 g |
| TPGS1000-b-PCL2050 § | 3560 | 3560 | 5330 | 1.06 | - | - | - |
| TPGS1000-b-PCL4200 | 5500 | 5700 | 9000 | 1.29 | - | - | - |
| TPGS1000-b-PCL8000 | 9500 | 9500 | 15,200 | 1.27 | - | - | - |
| TPGS1000-b-PCL15200 | 17,500 | 16,700 | 23,100 | 1.17 | - | - | - |
| TPGS1000-b-PCL20800 | 21,500 | 22,300 | 35,100 | 1.10 | - | - | - |
| TPGS1000-b-PCL25100 | 26,600 | 26,600 | 38,950 | 1.11 | - | - | - |
| TPGS1000-b-PCL30400 | 31,500 | 31,900 | 43,250 | 1.14 | - | - | - |
| TPGS2000 | 2513 | - | - | - | - | - | 186.2 ± 16.2 |
| TPGS2000-b-PCL2000 | 4500 | 4550 | 5950 | 1.25 | 70.5 ± 6.2 | 0.54 ± 0.30 | 41.00 ± 3.06 * |
| TPGS2000-b-PCL4000 | 6500 | 6400 | 8350 | 1.55 | 86.5 ± 3.9 | 0.45 ± 0.04 | 25.16 ± 3.10 * |
| TPGS2000-b-PCL6000 | 8500 | 8800 | 10,500 | 1.71 | 170.1 ± 9.4 | 0.21 ± 0.02 | 18.06 ± 0.20 *# |
| TPGS3500 | 4013 | - | - | - | - | - | 165.7 ± 15.0 |
| TPGS3500-b-PCL3500 | 7500 | 7100 | 4600 | 1.81 | 89.2 ± 4.1 | 0.35 ± 0.06 | 24.00 ± 1.81 * |
| TPGS3500-b-PCL7000 | 11,000 | 10,300 | 6400 | 1.62 | 61.3 ± 1.7 | 0.27 ± 0.02 | 15.88 ± 2.41 * |
| TPGS3500-b-PCL10500 | 14,500 | 13,900 | 10,300 | 1.62 | 81.7 ± 3.6 | 0.23 ± 0.03 | 8.38 ± 0.88 * |
| TPGS5000 | 5513 | - | - | - | - | - | 123.6 ± 6.8 |
| TPGS5000-b-PCL5000 | 10,500 | 10,300 | 4600 | 1.90 | 81.1 ± 2.8 | 0.27 ± 0.06 | 12.30 ± 0.82 * |
| TPGS5000-b-PCL10000 | 15,500 | 15,600 | 8100 | 1.53 | 75.0 ± 4.6 | 0.19 ± 0.05 | 7.29 ± 0.89 * |
| TPGS5000-b-PCL15000 | 20,500 | 20,550 | 12,100 | 1.70 | 77.0 ± 4.6 | 0.21 ± 0.03 | 5.44 ± 0.36 * |
a The number shown as a subscript indicates the molecular weight of each block determined by 1H NMR. b Number-average molecular weight measured by 1H NMR. c Number-average molecular weight measured by GPC using PS standards. d Dispersity (Đ) determined by GPC. e Diameter and polydispersity of the nanocarriers estimated by the DLS technique. f Critical association concentration (CAC) measured by DLS. g reported in the literature (0.02% w/v). § TPGS1000-b-PCL copolymers did not form micelles. * Significantly different form the respective unmodified TPGS (p < 0.05; one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey–Kramer post hoc test). # Significantly different from TPGS2000-b-PCL2000 (p < 0.05; one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey–Kramer post hoc test).