title: Synthesis of Cross-Linked Polymeric Micelle pH Nanosensors: An Investigation of Design Flexibility.
abstract: The design flexibility that polymeric micelles offer in the fabrication of optical nanosensors for ratiometric pH measurements is investigated. pH nanosensors based on polymeric micelles are synthesized either by a mixed-micellization approach or by a postmicelle modification strategy. In the mixed-micellization approach, self-assembly of functionalized unimers followed by shell cross-linking by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) results in stabilized cRGD-functionalized micelle pH nanosensors. In the postmicelle modification strategy, simultaneous cross-linking and fluorophore conjugation at the micelle shell using CuAAC results in a stabilized micelle pH nanosensor. Compared to the postmicelle modification strategy, the mixed-micellization approach increases the control of the overall composition of the nanosensors. Both approaches provide stable nanosensors with similar pKa profiles and thereby nanosensors with similar pH sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: DTU Nanotech Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Center for Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Technical University of Denmark, Building 423, 2800, Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: E K Pramod
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: DTU Nanotech Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Center for Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Technical University of Denmark, Building 423, 2800, Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Rasmus I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Jølck
authors.affiliation: DTU Nanotech Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Center for Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Technical University of Denmark, Building 423, 2800, Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Andresen
mesh_terms: D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008823:Micelles; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers
keywords: click chemistry-based pH nanosensors; micelle pH sensors; mixed-micelle sensors; pH nanosensor designing; stabilized micelle sensors