Poly(triazolyl methacrylate) glycopolymers as potential targeted unimolecular nanocarriers. Issue 44 (30th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Madeira do O, J.; Foralosso, R.; Yilmaz, G.; Mastrotto, F.; King, P. J. S.; Xerri, R. M.; He, Y.; van der Walle, C. F.; Fernandez-Trillo, F.; Laughton, C. A.; Styliari, I.; Stolnik, S.; Mantovani, G.
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 11:Issue 44(2019)
• Page Start: 21155
• Page End: 21166
• Publication Date: 2019-10-30
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c9nr05836b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : The ability of poly(triazolyl methacrylate) glycopolymers to function as unimolecular targeted carriers for hydrophobic guest molecules was investigated using a combination of experimental and computational techniques. Abstract : Synthetic glycopolymers are increasingly investigated as multivalent ligands for a range of biological and biomedical applications. This study indicates that glycopolymers with a fine-tuned balance between hydrophilic sugar pendant units and relatively hydrophobic polymer backbones can act as single-chain targeted nanocarriers for low molecular weight hydrophobic molecules. Non-covalent complexes formed from poly(triazolyl methacrylate) glycopolymers and low molecular weight hydrophobic guest molecules were characterised through a range of analytical techniques – DLS, SLS, TDA, fluorescence spectroscopy, surface tension analysis – and molecular dynamics (MD) modelling simulations provided further information on the macromolecular characteristics of these single chain complexes. Finally, we show that these nanocarriers can be utilised to deliver a hydrophobic guest molecule, Nile red, to both soluble and surface-immobilised concanavalin A (Con A) and peanut agglutinin (PNA) model lectins with high specificity, showing the potential of non-covalent complexation with specific glycopolymers in targeted guest-molecule delivery.