title: Biocompatible polylactide-block-polypeptide-block-polylactide nanocarrier.
abstract: Polypeptides are successfully incorporated into poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) chains in a ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l-lactide by using them as initiators. The resulting ABA triblock copolymers possess molecular weights up to 11000 g·mol(-1) and polydispersities as low as 1.13, indicating the living character of the polymerization process. In a nonaqueous emulsion, peptide-initiated polymerization of l-lactide leads to well-defined nanoparticles, consisting of PLLA-block-peptide-block-PLLA copolymer. These nanoparticles are easily loaded by dye-encapsulation and transferred into aqueous media without aggregation (average diameter of 100 nm) or significant dye leakage. Finally, internalization of PLLA-block-peptide-block-PLLA nanoparticles by HeLa cells is demonstrated by a combination of coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) and fluorescence microscopy. This demonstrates the promise of their utilization as cargo delivery vehicles.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dorresteijn
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ragg
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rago
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Billecke
authors.forename: Mischa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonn
authors.forename: Sapun H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.forename: Glauco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Battagliarin
authors.forename: Kalina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peneva
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klapper
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Müllen
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004705:Endocytosis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D058105:Polymerization
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010455:Peptides; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)