Nanoparticles from Polylactide and Polyether Block Copolymers: Formation, Properties, Encapsulation, and Release of Pyrene—Fluorescent Model of Hydrophobic Drug

Polylactide-b-polyglycidol-b-poly(ethylene oxide) terpolymers and their derivatives with carboxyl and 4-(phenylazo)phenyl labels in polyglycidol blocks were used for formation of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were produced by self assembly of terpolymer macromolecules in water above the critical aggregation concentration and by dialysis of terpolymer solutions in 1,4-dioxane against water. For terpolymers with 4-(phenylazo)phenyl labels critical aggregation concentrations increased after irradiation with UV light (300 < λ < 400 nm) inducing conformational change of the label from trans- to cis-conformation. Diameters of nanoparticles obtained by self-assembly of macromolecules ranged from 20 to 44 nm. Dialysis yielded nanoparticles with bimodal diameter distribution. One fraction had diameters below 35 nm and diameters of the second fraction were in a range from 350 to 2300 nm, depending on terpolymer structure. Mixtures of terpolymers with poly(L,L-lactide) and poly(D,D-lactide) blocks yielded nanoparticles with diameters from 350 to 440 nm. Pyrene was incorporated into nanoparticles by partition between solution and nanoparticles or directly during particle formation by dialysis. Monitoring of pyrene release from nanoparticles suggests that a fraction of this compound was entrapped into the polylactide core whereas the remaining one was located in the polyether rich shell. The release from shells is faster for nanoparticles made from copolymers with carboxyl labels in polyglycidol blocks.