TY - JOUR

T1 - Folic acid and rhodamine labelled pH responsive hyperbranched polymers: Synthesis, characterization and cell uptake studies

AU - Blackburn, Chester

AU - Tai, Hongyun

AU - Salerno, Martina

AU - Wang, Xi

AU - Hartsuiker, Edgar

AU - Wang, Wenxin

N1 - This research was funded by National Research Network – Life Sciences Research Network Wales (NRN LSRNW) project number NRN511361, Wales, United Kingdom. Co-funded alongside Bangor University, Wales, United Kingdom

PY - 2019/11

Y1 - 2019/11

N2 - Here, we report the synthesis of novel folated and fluorescent labelled pH responsive hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) via reversible addition fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) co-polymerization of 2-propyl acrylic acid (PAA), 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and disulfide diacrylate (DSDA) using 4-cyano-4-(((dodecylthio)carbonothioyl)thio)pentanoic acid (CDCTPA) as RAFT agent and post functionalization via bioconjugation techniques. The resultant HBPs were characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) technique was used to measure the size changes of HPBs in solutions at different pH values to demonstrate pH responsiveness of the polymers. The cell uptake evaluations on these folated and fluorescent labelled HBPs were carried out using HeLa cell line and confirmed by confocal images. The results show that we have successfully synthesized the desired multifunctional hyperbranched poly (PAA-co-DMAEMA-co-DSDA) with a pH responsive characteristic and the potentials for use as a drug delivery vehicle.

AB - Here, we report the synthesis of novel folated and fluorescent labelled pH responsive hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) via reversible addition fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) co-polymerization of 2-propyl acrylic acid (PAA), 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and disulfide diacrylate (DSDA) using 4-cyano-4-(((dodecylthio)carbonothioyl)thio)pentanoic acid (CDCTPA) as RAFT agent and post functionalization via bioconjugation techniques. The resultant HBPs were characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) technique was used to measure the size changes of HPBs in solutions at different pH values to demonstrate pH responsiveness of the polymers. The cell uptake evaluations on these folated and fluorescent labelled HBPs were carried out using HeLa cell line and confirmed by confocal images. The results show that we have successfully synthesized the desired multifunctional hyperbranched poly (PAA-co-DMAEMA-co-DSDA) with a pH responsive characteristic and the potentials for use as a drug delivery vehicle.

U2 - 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2019.109259

DO - 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2019.109259

M3 - Article

VL - 120

JO - European Polymer Journal

JF - European Polymer Journal

SN - 0014-3057

M1 - 109259

ER -