Abstract
The objective of this work was to synthesize and characterize amphiphilic copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) intended for drug delivery applications. The polymers were chosen regarding to their biocompatibility and bioresorbability. Different architectures of amphiphilic copolymers were prepared, and their behavior in aqueous media, as well as their abilities to encapsulate drugs were studied. First, a graft copolymer was synthesized through copolymerization of a functional monomer, monopropargylated glycolide, with L-lactide to yield a functionalized polyester backbone. The latter was then grafted with different densities of hydrophilic branches of PEG. Then, a brush-like triblock copolymer was synthesized through ROP and ATRP. To this end, chain ends of a telechelic block of PLA were modified to yield a macroinitiator able to initiate oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate polymerization with variable substitution degrees. Self-assembly and drug loading studies revealed that architecture and hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance played a major role on the nature of the formed objects and on their encapsulation potential. Finally, to modulate and increase the efficacy of encapsulated drugs, functionalization strategies were realized. This is illustrated by the linking of a fluorescent model molecule on a triblock brush-like copolymer and, in a collaboration project, the linking of an immunostimulant peptide on an amphiphilic diblock system. Comparison with other formulations revealed that the conjugate allowed modulating and reinforcing the drug's efficacy.