Preparation of a polysaccharide–polyester diblock copolymer and its micellar characteristics

A novel amphiphilic block copolymer based on dextran and poly(ε-caprolactone) was synthesized, and characterized by 1H NMR spectra. Its micellar characteristics in aqueous solution were investigated by fluorescence technique, transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. It was found that such polysaccharide derivative could self-assembly in water into spherical micelles with the diameters ranged from 20 to 50 nm in the absence of organic solvent or surfactant.