Synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity studies of novel pendant polymers: Amino acid β-cyclodextrin-conjugated poly(ε-lysine) derivatives

A series of novel pendant polymers, composed of a poly(ε-lysine) (ε-PL) (w: 4,000 g mol−1) main chain and three kinds of amino acid β-cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives, were prepared by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide-assisted synthesis and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray power diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Cytotoxicity and moisture absorption of the pendant polymers were also tested. Compared with ε-PL, all the pendant polymers exhibited lower moisture absorption and cytotoxicity. The synthesis method of the pendant polymers is simple, feasible, and has good practicability. We suggest these polymers have potential applications in many fields, especially in gene delivery vector and drug delivery systems.