Synthesis, characterization, and micelle formation of novel PEGylated derivatives of noscapine with anti-cancer activity

•Novel PEGylated derivatives of noscapine with different chain length were synthesized.•The chemical structure of the synthesized compounds was characterized.•The micelle formation properties of the PEGylated compounds (CMC) were determined.•The particle size of the micelles were within the size range of 300–400 nm.•Cytotoxicity of noscapine derivatives enhanced 3.6-16 folds by the PEG chain length.