Barium titanate nanoparticles (BTNPs) are gaining popularity in biomedical research because of their piezoelectricity, nonlinear optical properties, and high biocompatibility. However, the potential of BTNPs is limited by the ability to create stable nanoparticle dispersions in water and physiological media. In this work, we report a method of surface modification of BTNPs based on surface hydroxylation followed by covalent attachment of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymers. This polymer coating allows for additional modifications such as fluorescent labeling, surface charge tuning, or directional conjugation of IgG antibodies. We demonstrate the conjugation of anti-EGFR antibodies to the BTNP surface and show efficient molecular targeting of the nanoparticles to A431 cells. Overall, the reported modifications aim to expand the BTNP applications in molecular imaging, cancer therapy, or noninvasive neurostimulation.
Keywords: antibody conjugation; barium titanate nanoparticles; fluorescence; molecular targeting; poly(ethylene glycol); surface hydroxylation.