Biomimetic glycopolymers tethered gold nanoparticles: preparation, self-assembly and lectin recognition properties

Biomimetic glycopolymers poly(gluconamidoethylmethacrylate)-b-poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-b-poly(gluconamidoethylmethacrylate) with degradable disulfide groups in the backbone (PGAMA-PCL-SS-PCL-PGAMA) were synthesized by the combination of ring opening polymerization (ROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The internal disulfide bonds were cleaved by reduction with dl-dithiothreitol to yield the corresponding thiol terminated glycopolymers. The thiol terminated glycopolymers were effectively anchored on the surface of gold nanoparticles to prepare the biomimetic glycopolymers modified gold nanoparticles (Gly@Au NPs). Moreover, the properties of the Gly@Au NPs in aqueous solution were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the self-assembly morphology of the Gly@Au NPs can be fine-tuned, from irregular clusters to spherical aggregates, by changing the weight fraction of the hydrophobic PCL block. Furthermore, the Gly@Au NPs had specific recognition with Concanavalin A (Con A).