Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(alkyl α,L-glutamate-co-ethylene oxide)

Rod-coil amphiphilic block copolymers, PALG-PEOs, poly(alkyl α, L-glutamate-co-ethylene oxide)s, were successfully synthesized in three steps: 1) esterification of L-glutamic acid, 2) synthesis of γ-alkyl L-gultamate N-carboxyanhydride, and 3) polymerization of NCA monomers. These molecules form polymeric micelles with the hydrophobic core and hydrophilic corona in aqueous solution, which were characterized by light scattering and static fluorescence measurement.