Zwitterionic Polymer Coatings Enhance Gold Nanoparticle Stability and Uptake in Various Biological Environments

Zwitterionic polymers are a class of materials that have demonstrated utility as non-fouling surfaces for medical devices and drug delivery vehicles. Here, we develop a synthesis protocol to produce zwitterionic polymers as coatings for gold nanoparticles and evaluate nanoparticle stability and biological function after exposure to various biological fluids. Thiol-functionalized polymethacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymers (pMPC) were synthesized in nontoxic solvents via photoinitiated free radical polymerization with a radical addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent and coated onto gold nanoparticles. pMPC-coated nanoparticles exhibited reduced particle aggregation, improved suspension stability, and decreased protein adsorption upon exposure to serum and lung lavage fluid (BALF). Cell uptake in A549 cells was greater for pMPC-coated particles than uncoated particles after exposure to serum and BALF, with no observed cell toxicity, but pMPC-coated particles experienced higher levels of cell uptake after serum exposure than BALF exposure, suggesting that differences in the composition of the fluids result in differing impacts on particle fate. These zwitterionic polymers may serve as useful nanoparticle coatings to enhance particle stability and uptake in various biological environments.