Preparation of polymer nanoparticles by self-assembling of amphiphilic poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone derivatives in aqueous media

Abstract

Amphiphilic N-vinylpyrrolidone polymers were prepared by a new one-step procedure consisting in radical polymerization of the monomer in the presence of long-chain monobasic saturated carboxylic acid chlorides as chain-transfer and chain-terminating agents. The behavior of the new amphiphilic polymers differing in the structure of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties in aqueous media was studied. The synthesized polymers at definite concentrations undergo spontaneous aggregation with the formation of spherical nanosized micellar particles consisting of a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic shell. The main characteristics of the polymer nanoparticles formed were determined, and the possibility of using them as promising carriers for the delivery of biologically active compounds and drugs was revealed.