Abstract
We here report improved synthesis and in vitro interactions of amphiphilic hydrogel nanoparticles with the macrophage cell line J774A.1. Nanoparticles comprising dispersed hydrophobic nanodomains of poly(propylene glycol) within a continuous phase of hydrophilic poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) were prepared via inverse emulsion crosslinking polymerization, using acrylated PEG and Pluronic® F127 as macromonomer blocks. Functionality and fluorescent labeling were achieved through incorporation of reactive comonomers and a posteriori reaction with fluorescein, respectively. When introduced to a static cell culture of adhered J774A.1 macrophages, the cells internalized these hydrogel nanoparticles in a dose- and time-dependent manner through clathrin-mediated and other pathways. Amphiphilic nanoparticle uptake was however dramatically lower than that of a model system (Fluospheres®) and similar to PEG-coated colloids reported in the literature, which are considered "stealth." Our findings support the potential of the nanoparticles presented here as long-circulating drug carriers.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1557-1565 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Biomedical Materials Research - Part A |
Volume | 93 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 15 2010 |
Keywords
- Copolymer
- Hydrophilicity
- Internalization
- Inverse emulsion
- Stealth carrier
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biomaterials
- Ceramics and Composites
- Metals and Alloys