Synthesis and Characterization of Pentablock Copolymer Micelles

The pentablock copolymer (PDEAEM–PEO-PPO–PEO-PDEAEM) was synthesized following our previously published protocol [46 (link)]. In short, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was used to synthesize the pentablock copolymer using a brominated Pluronic®-F127 as macroinitiator. The Pluronic F127 was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran and reacted overnight with triethylamine and 2-bromoisobutyryl. To validate the end group functionalization, the product was precipitated in n-hexane and analyzed by ¹H NMR. The macroinitiator and DEAEM monomer were then reacted by ATRP to synthesize the pentablock copolymer, with copper(I) oxide nanoparticles acting as the catalyst and N-propylpyrilidine methanamine acting as the complexing ligand [103 (link)]. The pentablock copolymer was characterized using ¹H NMR to determine purity and molecular weight (15,000 g/mol). The pentablock copolymer was dissolved in aqueous solution (12.5 μg/mL) to yield micelles.