• Arno, Maria Chiara
• Couturaud, Benoit
• Oreilly, Rachel
• Foster, Jeffrey C.
• Jones, Joseph R.
• Georgiou, Panagiotis G.
• Varlas, Spyridon

Abstract

<p>The preparation of a functional fluorine-containing block copolymer using reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer dispersion polymerization in DMSO as a "platform/scaffold" is explored. The nanostructures, comprised of poly(ethyleneglycol)-b-poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) or PEG-b-P(PFMA), are formulated via photo-initiated polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) followed by post-polymerization modification using different primary amines. A combination of light scattering and microscopy techniques are used to characterize the resulting morphologies. It is found that upon varying the degree of polymerization of the core-forming block of PFMA, only uniform spheres (with textured surfaces) are obtained. These nanostructures are subsequently modified by cross-linking using a non-responsive and a redox-responsive diamine, thus imparting stability to the particles in water. In response to intracellular glutathione (GSH) concentration, destabilization of the micelles occurs as evidenced by dynamic light scattering. The well-defined size, inherent reactivity of the nanoparticles toward nucleophiles, and GSH-responsiveness of the nanospheres make them ideal scaffolds for drug delivery to intracellular compartments with reductive environments.</p>

Topics

• nanoparticle
• impedance spectroscopy
• dispersion
• surface
• forming
• copolymer
• block copolymer
• functionalization
• amine
• self-assembly
• dynamic light scattering
• microscopy
• post-polymerization modification