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Poly(Pentafluorophenyl Methacrylate)-Based Nano-Objects Developed by Photo-PISA as Scaffolds for Post-Polymerization
Benoit Couturaud1, Panagiotis G Georgiou1,2, Spyridon Varlas1
1School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|August 1, 2018
Summary
Functional fluorine-containing block copolymers were created as nanostructures for drug delivery. These nanoparticles show responsiveness to intracellular environments, making them ideal for targeted delivery to reductive cellular compartments.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Development of functional nanostructures for drug delivery is crucial for targeted intracellular therapies.
- Fluorine-containing polymers offer unique properties for biomedical applications.
- Controlled polymerization techniques are essential for creating well-defined nanocarriers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare functional fluorine-containing block copolymers as nanoscaffolds using reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization.
- To investigate the self-assembly and modification of poly(ethyleneglycol)-b-poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) (PEG-b-P(PFMA)) nanostructures.
- To evaluate the potential of these nanostructures as drug delivery vehicles responsive to intracellular environments.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of PEG-b-P(PFMA) block copolymers via RAFT dispersion polymerization in DMSO.
- Photo-initiated polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) to form nanostructures.
- Post-polymerization modification with primary amines and cross-linking with diamines.
- Characterization using light scattering and microscopy techniques.
- Assessment of glutathione (GSH)-responsiveness using dynamic light scattering.
Main Results:
- Uniform spherical nanostructures with textured surfaces were successfully prepared by controlling the PFMA block length.
- Cross-linking with non-responsive and redox-responsive diamines imparted stability in aqueous solutions.
- The nanostructures demonstrated destabilization in response to varying intracellular GSH concentrations.
- The nanoparticles exhibited inherent reactivity towards nucleophiles.
Conclusions:
- Well-defined, functional fluorine-containing nanospheres were synthesized using a RAFT PISA approach.
- The developed nanoscaffolds are stable in water and exhibit controlled destabilization in response to GSH.
- These GSH-responsive nanoparticles are promising candidates for targeted drug delivery to intracellular compartments with reductive environments.
Keywords:
activated estersnano-objectspolymer functionalizationpolymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA)reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (RAFT)More Related Videos
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