Synthesis and characterization of a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) core + poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) shell nanoparticle system

Abstract

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a popular material used to prepare nanoparticles for drug delivery. However, PLGA nanoparticles lack desirable attributes including active targeting abilities, resistance to aggregation during lyophilization, and the ability to respond to dynamic environmental stimuli. To overcome these issues, we fabricated a nanoparticle consisting of a PLGA core encapsulated within a shell of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope imaging were used to characterize the nanoparticles, while an MTT assay and ELISA suggested biocompatibility in THP1 cells. Finally, a collagen type II binding assay showed successful modification of these nanoparticles with an active targeting moiety.

Keywords: :

• core-shell
• functionalization of polymers
• poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)
• poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM)
• nanoparticles

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Acknowledgments

We thank Debra M. Sherman for her assistance in preparing and imaging samples in the Purdue University Life Science Microscope Facility. We also would like to thank Becca Scott for her expertise in producing Figure 1. Additionally, this material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. 103049 (J.L.B.).