Uniquely sized nanogels via crosslinking polymerization

Disraeli N. M. Kusmus, Thijs W. van Veldhuisen, Anzar Khan, Jeroen J.L M. Cornelissen*, Jos M. J. Paulusse*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
65 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Nanogels are very promising carriers for nanomedicine, as they can be prepared in the favorable nanometer size regime, can be functionalized with targeting agents and are responsive to stimuli, i.e. temperature and pH. This induces shrinking or swelling, resulting in controlled release of a therapeutic cargo. Our interest lies in the controlled synthesis of functional nanogels, such as those containing epoxide moieties, that can be subsequently functionalized. Co-polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate and a bifunctional methacrylate crosslinker under dilute conditions gives rise to well-defined epoxide-functional nanogels, of which the sizes are controlled by the degree of polymerization. Nanogels with well-defined sizes (polydispersity of 0.2) ranging from 38 nm to 95 nm were prepared by means of controlled radical polymerization. The nanogels were characterized in detail by FT-IR, DLS, size exclusion chromatography, NMR spectroscopy, AFM and TEM. Nucleophilic attack with functional thiols or amines on the least hindered carbon of the epoxide provides water-soluble nanogels, without altering the backbone structure, while reaction with sodium azide provides handles for further functionalization via click chemistry.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)29423-29432
Number of pages10
JournalRSC advances
Volume12
Issue number45
Early online date14 Oct 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Oct 2022

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