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Nanosponge Tunability in Size and Crosslinking Density
Published on: August 4, 2017
Tuning Nanoparticle Rigidity: From Megadalton Dendritic Dots to Mechanobiology-Driven Nano-Bio Interactions
Yincong Zhu1, Jianxiang Huang2, Yuji Sun1
1Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of the Ministry of Education and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
Abstract:
Nanoparticle rigidity is a critical yet poorly understood regulator of nano-bio interactions, but decoupling rigidity from other properties (size, charge) remains challenging. Here, we synthesize ultrahigh-generation dye-cored polylysine dendritic dots (PDDs) with precisely tunable rigidity (Young's moduli: 0.93-1.90 GPa), enabling a systematic study of rigidity effects in megadalton dendrimers. These PDDs, produced at the gram scale with close size/charge but generation-dependent stiffness, reveal a striking mechanobiological trade-off: Stiffer PDDs exhibit enhanced cellular uptake, transcytosis, and deep penetration in three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroids, while softer ones show prolonged blood circulation and superior tumor accumulation. This work deciphers rigidity's dual role in nano-bio interactions, presenting PDDs as a versatile model for mechanobiology studies and providing actionable design principles for next-generation drug delivery systems.
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