Attenuating the size and molecular carrier capabilities of polyacrylate nanoparticles by a hydrophobic fluorine effect.
This study investigates the effect of introducing alkyl chain fluorination on the properties of polyacrylate nanoparticles prepared in aqueous solution by emulsion polymerization. For this, 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl acrylate (1) and methyl trifluoroacrylate (2) were tested as monomers as a means to prepare fluorinated polyacrylate nanoparticles to evaluate how side chain fluorination may affect nanoparticle size and drug carrier properties. Our results show that as fluorine content within the polyacrylate matrix increases, the size of the nanoparticle systematically diminishes, from 45 nm (for nanoparticles containing no fluoroacrylate) to ~7 nm (for nanoparticles constructed solely of fluoroacrylate). We also observe that as fluoroacrylate content and hydrophobicity increases, the nanoparticles decrease their ability to incorporate lipophilic molecules during the process of emulsification. These findings have meaningful implications in the implementation of fluorinated nanoparticles in molecular delivery.
Center for Molecular Diversity in Drug Design, Discovery, and Delivery, Department of Chemistry, CHE 205, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
Raphaël
R
Labruère
Edward
E
Turos
D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005461:Fluorine / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000179:Acrylates; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers; D005461:Fluorine