Nanotechnology for biomaterials engineering: Structural characterization of amphiphilic polymeric nanoparticles by ¹H NMR spectroscopy

Nanoparticles composed of diblock poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) or a branched, multiblock PLA-(PEG)₃ were prepared by the single emulsion technique. Results of previous studies of these nanoparticles suggested that their structure is of the core-corona type with a polyester core and an outer PEG coating. In the present study, ¹H NMR spectroscopy was utilized to provide direct evidence of the structure of these nanoparticles suspended in an aqueous environment. The results confirm the existence of the core-corona structure under these conditions, and show that the PEG moieties extend out from the nanoparticle core into the aqueous environment, and exhibit chain mobility similar to that of PEG in solution.