# US 2017/0283548 A1 · Poly (e-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0283548 A1 - Document ID: US20170283548A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/084,441 - Filed: 2016-03-29 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-29 - Assignees: King Saud University - Applicants: King Saud University - Inventors: ZIYAD BINKHATHLAN; ABDULLAH H. ALOMRANI; AWS ALSHAMSAN; IBRAHIM I. ALJUFFALI; RAISUDDIN ALI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283548A1 ## CPC - C08G 63/823: {for the preparation of polylactones or polylactides} - A61K 9/1075: {Microemulsions or submicron emulsions; Preconcentrates or solids thereof; Micelles, e.g. made of phospholipids or block copolymers (A61K9/0026 takes precedence)} - A61K 9/5146: {obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyethylene glycol, polyamines, polyanhydrides} - A61K 9/5153: {Polyesters, e.g. poly(lactide-co-glycolide)} - A61K 47/34: Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyesters, polyamino acids, polysiloxanes, polyphosphazines, copolymers of polyalkylene glycol or poloxamers (A61K47/10 takes precedence) - C08G 63/08: Lactones or lactides - C08G 63/912: {derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids} - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) ## Abstract The poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty acid copolymers are block copolymers including ε-caprolactone units and ethoxylated fatty alcohol units, the block copolymer having the structural formula: where n and m are integers greater than 0 and R is an alkyl group. The block copolymer is prepared by polymerizing ε-caprolactone and an ethoxylated fatty alcohol in the presence of a catalyst, such as stannous octoate. The block copolymers have potential as delivery systems for various payloads, such as, but not limited to, lipid soluble drugs and diagnostic agents. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (depends on 1) A poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer, comprising a block copolymer having at least one ε-caprolactone unit and ethoxylated fatty alcohol units, the block copolymer having the structural formula: where n and m are integers greater than 0 and R is an alkyl group, and wherein the poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer of claim 1, wherein n is 1 to 100, m is 10 to 100, and R is an alkyl group having 12-18 carbon atoms. ### Claim at position 2 2-3. (canceled) ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer of claim 1, wherein the block copolymer has an average molecular weight of at least 3000 Daltons. ### Claim 5 A method of making a poly(s-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer, comprising the steps of: mixing ε-caprolactone and an ethoxylated fatty alcohol in a reaction vessel to form a reaction mixture; adding a catalyst to the reaction mixture to catalyze polymerization; and heating the reaction vessel to 140° C. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of making a poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer according to claim 5, wherein said step of heating the reaction vessel to 140° C. comprises polymerizing the reaction mixture at a temperature of about 140° C. for between 4-5 hours. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of making a poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of: purging the reaction vessel of nitrogen; sealing the reaction vessel; and polymerizing the reaction mixture under vacuum. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of making a poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer according to claim 5, wherein said catalyst comprises stannous octoate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of making a poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer according to claim 5, wherein said catalyst comprises bidentate sulfonamide zinc complex. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The method of making a poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer according to claim 5, wherein the ethoxylated fatty alcohol has a molecular weight between 1000 and 50,000 Daltons. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The method of making a poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer according to claim 5, further comprising the step of cooling the reaction vessel to room temperature to terminate polymerization. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The method of making a poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol copolymer according to claim 5, wherein the ethoxylated fatty alcohol comprises polyoxyethylene stearyl ether. ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 A method of preparing self-assembled nanocarriers, comprising the steps of: dissolving a poly(ε-caprolactone)-ethoxylated fatty alcohol block copolymer in an organic solvent to form a solution; adding the solution drop-wise into distilled water; and evaporating the organic solvent to form self-assembled nanocarriers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of preparing self-assembled nanocarriers according to claim 14, wherein the self-assembled nanocarriers have a mean diameter between 50 nm and 300 nm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of preparing self-assembled nanocarriers according to claim 14, wherein the organic solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of acetone, tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile, and dimethyl oxide.