Binding of amphiphilic p(DMAEMA79-b-AZOM5) diblock copolymer with bovine serum albumin – a spectroscopic investigation with warfarin and ibuprofen as site markers

Based on our previous report on the synthesis of amphiphilic diblock copolymer (N,N-dimethyl-ethylamine methacrylate)-block-poly{6-[4-(4-methoxy phenyl-azo) phenoxy] hexylacrylate}(p(DMAEMAm-b-AZOMn)), we first investigated the binding of p(DMAEMA79-b-AZOM5) copolymer with bovine serum albumin (BSA) by resonance light scattering spectra, UV–vis absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and synchronous fluorescence spectra in present study. The copolymer self-assembled to form vesicles or micro-spheres, which could be potentially utilized in the drug delivery system. The inherent binding information, including the fluorescence quenching mechanism, binding constants, number of binding sites, thermodynamic parameters and interaction driven forces, was obtained by fluorescence quenching technique. The binding distance and energy transfer efficiency were obtained based on Förster’s non-radiation energy transfer theory. Apart from that, we first revealed the possible binding sites of this copolymer in BSA with the aid of two site markers-warfarin and ibuprofen.