Multifunctional Amphiphilic Nanoparticles Featuring (Bio)Degradable Core and Dual-Responsive Shell as Biomedical Platforms for Controlled Release

• Published in: Macromolecular chemistry and physics 2015-12, Vol.216 (23), p.2287-2301
• Main Authors: Gromadzki, Daniel, Rychter, Piotr, Uchman, Mariusz, Momekova, Denitsa, Marcinkowski, Andrzej, Koseva, Neli S., El Fray, Miroslawa, Marić, Milan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aliphatic polyesters; Atomic force microscopy; Biocompatibility; dimer fatty acid; dual-responsive polymer; Grafting; Light scattering; multifunctional nanoparticles; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Polyester resins; surface functionalization; Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 1022-1352; 1521-3935
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201500235

Multifunctional polymeric platforms combining (bio)degradable and biocompatible, temperature and pH‐sensitive entities hold great promise as nanocarriers for targeted drug and gene delivery, and tissue engineering. In this work, preparation and characterization of surfactant‐free polyester nanoparticles (NPs) from biobased polyesters poly(butylene sebacate) (PBSE) and poly(butylene sebacate‐co‐butylene dilinoleate)s (PBSE/PBDL) using nanoprecipitation is reported. This strategy leads to spherical nanosized particles with sizes narrowly distributed in a range of 30–200 nm which is appropriate for internalization by a variety of cells. The effect of molecular parameters and type of solvent used in the nanoprecipitation protocol on the size and shape of produced polyester nanocolloids and their in vitro degradation in PBS solution at 37 °C is elucidated by quasi‐elastic light scattering (QELS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) techniques. A dense cationic brush layer (≈ 20 nm) of stimuli‐responsive and biocompatible poly(2‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate‐co‐acrylonitrile) is grafted on the surface of PBSE/PBDL NPs through “grafting onto” (arm first) coupling chemistry. Nanoprecipitation and “grafting onto” strategy affords bio(degradable) and stimuli‐sensitive core–shell nanoparticles. Well‐defined spherical and biocompatible nanostructures are characterized by dynamic and static light scattering, small‐angle neutron scattering, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The solution properties, stability, and degradation of nanoparticles in aqueous and phosphate buffer saline media have been investigated.