Nanoengineering of Poly(ethylene glycol) Particles for Stealth and Targeting
Jiwei Cui1,2, Mattias Björnmalm2,3, Yi Ju2
1Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, and the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Shandong University , Jinan , Shandong 250100 , China.
Abstract:
The assembly of particles composed solely or mainly of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) is an emerging area that is gaining increasing interest within bio-nano science. PEG, widely considered to be the "gold standard" among polymers for drug delivery, is providing a platform for exploring fundamental questions and phenomena at the interface between particle engineering and biomedicine. These include the targeting and stealth behaviors of synthetic nanomaterials in biological environments. In this feature article, we discuss recent work in the nanoengineering of PEG particles and explore how they are enabling improved targeting and stealth performance. Specific examples include PEG particles prepared through surface-initiated polymerization, mesoporous silica replication via postinfiltration, and particle assembly through metal-phenolic coordination. This particle class exhibits unique in vivo behavior (e.g., biodistribution and immune cell interactions) and has recently been explored for drug delivery applications.
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