Design of Amphiphilic, Biodegradable Functionalized Polyoxazoline Hybrid-Block Graft Copolymers Using Click Reactions

Hybrid molecular brushes (HMBs), or bottlebrush polymers, are polymeric constructs containing a linear backbone and side chains with different chemical characteristics. Hybrid-block graft copolymers (HCPs) similar to traditional HMBs, except their consists of more than one polymer. We developed facile method for the synthesis family amphiphilic, biodegradable HCPs composed two blocks: hydrophilic block poly(ethylene glycol) hydrophobic poly(2-oxazolines) modified by polycaprolactone. This was achieved modification precursor 2-oxazoline monomers thiol-containing compound via thiol–ene click chemistry reaction, followed ring-opening polymerization monomer initiated methyl ether tosylate macroinitiator. Lastly, polycaprolactone were grafted yielding amphiphilic HCPs. Herein, we determined critical micelle concentration (cmc), showed uptake partitioning β-carotene in micelles, studied brush architecture. The structure, weight, morphology functionalized backbone, copolymers, also determined.