Preparation of a polysaccharide-polyester diblock copolymer and its micellar characteristics

A novel amphiphilic block copolymer based on dextran and poly(F-caprolactone) was synthesized, and characterized by H-1 NMR spectra. Its micellar characteristics in aqueous solution were investigated by fluorescence technique, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. It was found that such polysaccharide derivative could self-assembly in water into spherical micelles with the diameters ranged from 20 to 50 nm in the absence of organic solvent or surfactant. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.