Thiol-reactive amphiphilic block copolymer for coating gold nanoparticles with neutral and functionable surfaces.

ABSTRACT: Nanoparticles designed for biomedical applications are often coated with polymers containing reactive functional groups, such as -COOH and -NH₂, to conjugate targeting ligands or drugs. However, introducing highly charged surfaces promotes binding of the nanoparticles to biomolecules in biological systems through ionic interactions, causing the nanoparticles to aggregate in biological environments and consequently undergo strong non-specific binding to off-target cells and tissues. Developing a unique polymer with neutral surfaces that can be further functionalized directly would be critical to develop suitable nanomaterials for nanomedicine. Here, we report a thiol-reactive amphiphilic block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(pyridyldisulfide ethylmeth acrylate) (PEO-

SUBMITTER: Chen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3979584 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature