Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(amino acid) copolymer

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–poly(amino acid) copolymer had been synthesized by using amino-terminated PEG as a primary amine. The mechanism is that the initiator amine undergoes a nucleophilic addition to the C-5 carbonyl group of the N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA). The copolymerization improve the solubility of poly(amino acid) in organic solvents. Also, the hydrophilic/hydrophobic and soft/hard of the poly(amino acid) homopolymer can be modulated by copolymerization of PEG with NCA.