Assembly and Characterization of Biodegradable Polymeric Nanocolloids

Abstract

The assembly and characterization of the poly(lactide) (PLA)- poly(caprolactone) (PCL) particles described in this work demonstrate the immense potential that biodegradable Janus colloids possess in various fields of application. It is shown that biodegradable polymers of differing chemical structures can self-assemble through nano-precipitation into a colloid that exhibits properties unique to the dual-polymer particles. Hemispherical morphology of the particles is observed and understood through several characterization techniques; further, the morphology is found to be influenced by several parameters, including the material properties of the polymers, the interaction between the PLA and PCL domains, and the interaction between each polymer and the solvent in which they are dispersed. Moreover, high concentrations of PLA-PCL solutions were found to induce morphology that deviates from the hemispherical structure observed at lower concentrations. Stability of PLA homopolymer particles, PCL homopolymer particles, and PLA-PCL particles was investigated at 50⁰C and the PCL component was found to confer stability to the PLA-PCL particle at elevated temperatures in aqueous solution.