Combinatorial Evaluation of the Host-Guest Chemistry of Star-Shaped Block Copolymers

Meier, Michael; Schubert, Ulrich S.

Abstract:

The encapsulation of guest molecules in unimolecular micelles based on dendrimers or branched macromolecules as host systems is an interesting field of research, since the resulting supramolecular host-guest systems might be suitable for the controlled delivery of drugs, micellar catalysis, or sensoric applications. Advantages of drug encapsulation with dendritic macromolecules are, for instance, the solubilization of nonsoluble drugs, which is one of the current problems with the delivery of low molecular weight drugs, or the reduction of toxic effects. On the other hand, it was shown that reversed unimolecular micelles based on dendritic systems could act as nanoscale catalytic systems for organic reactions with a polar transition state due to their defined nanoenvironment. Recently, we have shown that star-shaped block copolymers consisting of a poly(ethylene glycol) core and a poly(e-caprolactone) corona behave as unimolecular micelles that can encapsulate and transfer methyl orange from a water to a chloroform phase. Within this contribution, we describe a fast screening method for the evaluation of the host-guest chemistry of the mentioned polymer class with 24 different UV absorbing guest molecules as well as a few potential applications of these polymers.

Year:

2005

Type of Publication:

Article

Journal:

Journal of Combinatorial Chemistry

Volume:

7

Number:

3

Pages:

356 - 359