Synthesis of amphiphilic polymers exhibiting liquid crystallinity at room temperature and their self-assembling in water

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Novel amphiphilic liquid crystalline polymers (LCP-g-PEGs) exhibiting phase transition at body temperature were synthesized by introducing both hydrophobic mesogenic groups and hydrophilic PEG chains onto a polysiloxane main chain using hydrosilylation reaction. Self-assembly of LCP-g-PEG in an aqueous solution resulted in the micelle formation by hydrophobic interaction. Hydrophobic model drugs such as pyrene and fluorescein were loaded into the LCP-g-PEG micelles and their temperature-responsive drug release was investigated. The drug release from LCP-g-PEG micelles was enhanced above the phase transition temperature of LCP-g-PEG. The LCP-g-PEG micelles have potential applications as smart drug carriers for drug delivery systems.