Abstract:
This thesis emphasizes a facile method of preparing dextrin (starch derivative)
amphiphiles using renewable hydrophobic units such as 3-pentadecylphenol as the
hydrophobic moiety. Dextrin amphiphiles with different degree of substitutions were
synthesized and their structures were characterized by NMR and FTIR techniques.
The self assembly of the newly synthesized amphiphiles were investigated using
dynamic light scattering, electron microscope (SEM and TEM) and atomic force
microscopic techniques. The critical vesicular concentrations (CVCs) were
determined using pyrene as fluorophore. Further, the encapsulation capabilities of
the dextrin scaffolds were investigated using hydrophobic and hydrophilic dye
molecules. The results proved that dextrin with 7 % hydrophobic substitution
stabilizes the Rhodamine-B (Rh-B) in the vesicular scaffold. On the other hand,
higher incorporation of hydrophobic content fails to show any encapsulation. The invitro
release characteristics of Rhodamine-B loaded dextrin vesicles were studied
under physiological conditions. Esterase enzyme was employed as stimuli to
breakdown he vesicular scaffolds and delivers the encapsulated cargo at much
faster rate. The study gives an insight into role of the hydrophobic unit in the self
assembly and the forces that are responsible for giving rise to these structures at the
molecular level. The scaffolds, thus synthesized could be used for the loading and
delivery of hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic anticancer drugs which are currently investigated in detail.
