title: Polymeric nanoparticle engineering: from temperature-responsive polymer mesoglobules to gene delivery systems.
abstract: A novel approach for the preparation of nano- and microcapsules in aqueous solutions by using thermoresponsive polymer (TRP) templates (mesoglobules) is described. The method comprised three steps: formation of mesoglobules, coating the templates by seeded radical copolymerization, followed by core dissolution and core removal upon cooling. When mesoglobule entraps biomacromolecules during the process of their formation, it makes it possible to load a controlled amount of bioactive compounds without covalent attachment. Special attention is paid to the mesoglobule dissolution upon cooling, as well as their loading efficiency. Details on the outer shell formation and the possibilities for targeting ligands incorporation and control of the shell porosity are discussed. Finally, the seeded radical copolymerization was used for covering DNA complexes with cationic copolymers bearing TRP blocks. This Review is an attempt to convince researchers of the promising perspectives for using mesoglobules as potential reservoirs, carriers, and transferring agents for biologically active substances.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences , "Akad. G. Bonchev" St. 103A, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haladjova
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toncheva-Moncheva
authors.forename: Margarita D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Apostolova
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trzebicka
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dworak
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petrov
authors.forename: Ivaylo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dimitrov
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rangelov
authors.forename: Christo B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Tsvetanov
mesh_terms: D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D011108:Polymers; D004247:DNA