title: De novo synthesis and cellular uptake of organic nanocapsules with tunable surface chemistry.
abstract: Water-soluble organic nanocapsules were prepared from bottlebrush copolymers with triblock terpolymer side chains composed of a degradable inner block (polylactide), a cross-linkable middle block (poly(4-butenylstyrene)), and a functional outer block (poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)). Bottlebrush copolymers are macromolecules with a long linear backbone and shorter polymeric side chains densely grafted onto the backbone. Hollow cylindrical nanoparticles were prepared by peripheral cross-linking of the bottlebrush copolymers and subsequent selective removal of the core. Reactive anhydride groups of the outer functional layer allowed for the preparation of nanocapsules with tunable surface characteristics. Cellular uptake of negatively charged organic nanocapsules showed strong surface chemistry dependence. The presence of hydrophobic groups on the nanocapsule surface was necessary for their nonspecific association with the cell membrane and subsequent internalization by endocytosis. The length of surface grafted oligoethylene glycol chains also had a dramatic influence on the intracellular accumulation of nanocapsules. Macropinocytosis was shown to be the predominant pathway for the cellular uptake of organic nanocapsules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Javid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rzayev
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000032:analysis; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008298:Maleates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D010873:Pinocytosis; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D055672:Static Electricity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D008298:Maleates; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011091:Polyesters; D011137:Polystyrenes; C521900:poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride); D014867:Water; C033616:poly(lactide); D019793:Fluorescein