Synthesis of Amphiphilic Diblock Poly-amido-saccharides and Self-Assembly of Polymeric Nanostructures

We report the synthesis of diblock poly-amido-saccharides (PASs) by sequential addition of variably protected glucose and galactose monomers via living anionic ring-opening polymerization. Diblock polymers with varied polymer length, hydrophobic to hydrophilic ratio, and stereochemistry of hydrophilic component were synthesized, characterized by NMR, IR, and GPC. These amphiphilic polymers self-assemble in water to form nanoparticles as determined by DLS, SEM, and cryo-TEM. Amphiphilic polymers with glucose-PAS hydrophobic and galactose-PAS hydrophilic blocks and degree of polymerization of 100 (100-EtGlc1-OHGal3diblock PAS) form spherical nanostructures and are non-cytotoxic.