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S. Prakash,
N. Haridharan,
- Research Scholar, Department of Chemistry, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Avadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Professor, Department of Chemistry, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Avadi, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Abstract
Amphiphilic block copolymers have attracted considerable interest in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, including controlled drug release, gene delivery, and biomolecular sensing. In this study, fluorescent amphiphilic block copolymers were designed to facilitate interactions with biological molecules such as DNA and antiviral agents, enabling their behavior to be monitored through fluorescence spectroscopy. Two novel block copolymers, poly(methyl methacrylate) – b – poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate – co – naphthyl methacrylate) [PMMA-b-P(DMAEMA-co-NMA)] and poly(styrene) – b – poly(tert-butyl acrylate – co – naphthyl methacrylate) [PS-b-P(t-BA-co-NMA)], were synthesized successfully via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using Copper(I) Bromide (CuBr) as catalyst and N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) as ligand. To establish steroid functionality into the polymer architecture, a steroid-based initiator has been prepared by reacting ergosterol with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and UV–Visible spectroscopy was utilized to characterize the synthesized polymers. The monomer conversion and the increasing in molecular weight were revealed by polymerization kinetics which indicated controlled polymer growth. The fluorescence characteristics of the block copolymers were investigated, and their self-assembly into micellar structures in aqueous media was confirmed. Furthermore, DNA-binding studies demonstrated that the steroid-containing block copolymers exhibited progressive fluorescence quenching with increasing DNA concentration (1–10 µg), suggesting effective polymer–DNA interactions and supporting the formation of self-assembled nanostructures.
Keywords: Living radical polymerization, ATRP, Fluorescent polymers, DNA, Amphiphilic block copolymer, Steroid.
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Journal of Polymer & Composites
| Volume | 14 | |
| 05 | ||
| Received | 14/07/2026 | |
| Accepted | 30/07/2026 | |
| Published | 12/08/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 29 Days |