Preparation of Polypseudorotaxanes Composed of Cyclodextrin and Polymers in Microspheres

Abstract

We prepared polypseudorotaxanes (PPRXs) composed of cyclodextrin (CyD) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) inside microspheres (MSs) by an emulsifying process using polypropylene glycol (PPG) that shows temperature-dependent hydrophilicity changes; PPG is hydrophobic at high temperatures but hydrophilic at low temperatures. An aqueous solution of CyD and PEG was dispersed as droplets in PPG at 60°C then cooled to 0°C to allow water of droplets to transfer into PPG. On removal of water in the droplets, CyD and PEG were left behind as a CyD/PEG PPRX inside the solid-state MSs. Examination of α-, β-, and γ-CyD revealed that α-CyD was suitable for the formation of PPRX containing PEG in this MS preparation procedure. Interestingly, a new PPRX composed of α-CyD and PPG was formed in the α-CyD MSs when they were prepared in the absence of PEG from the aqueous solution of α-CyD. This MS fabrication procedure can control the size and shape of PPRX particles, and will contribute to the production of new types of CyD inclusion complexes.