"Clickable" Nanogels via Thermally Driven Self-Assembly of Polymers: Facile Access to Targeted Imaging Platforms using Thiol-Maleimide Conjugation

Biomacromolecules. 2017 Feb 13;18(2):490-497. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b01576. Epub 2017 Jan 25.

Abstract

Multifunctionalizable nanogels are fabricated using thermally driven self-assembly and cross-linking of reactive thermoresponsive copolymers. Nanogels thus fabricated can be easily conjugated with various appropriately functionalized small molecules and/or ligands to tailor them for various applications in delivery and imaging. In this study, a poly(ethylene glycol)-methacrylate-based maleimide-bearing copolymer was cross-linked with a dithiol-based cross-linker to synthesize nanogels. Because of lower critical solution temperature (LCST) around 55 °C in aqueous media, these copolymers assemble into nanosized aggregates when heated to this temperature, and they are cross-linked using the thiol-maleimide conjugation. Nanogels thus fabricated contain both thiol and maleimide groups in the same cross-linked nanogels. Postgelation functionalization of the residual maleimide and thiol groups is demonstrated through conjugation of a thiol-bearing hydrophobic dye (BODIPY-SH) and N-(fluoresceinyl) maleimide, respectively. In addition, to demonstrate the utility of multifunctionality of these nanogels, a thiol-bearing cyclic-peptide-based targeting group, cRGDfC, and N-(fluoresceinyl)-maleimide-based fluorescent tag was conjugated to nanogels in aqueous media. Upon treatment with breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231, it was deduced from cellular internalization studies using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry that the peptide carrying constructs were preferentially internalized. Overall, a facile synthesis of multifunctionalizable nanogels that can be tailored using effective conjugation chemistry under mild conditions can serve as promising candidates for various applications.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Maleimides / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Molecular Imaging
  • Nanogels
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polyethyleneimine / chemistry*
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry*
  • Temperature
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Maleimides
  • Nanogels
  • Polymers
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • polyethylene glycol polyethyleneimine nanogel
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Polyethyleneimine