Glycosylated polyplex micelles from oppositely charged block copolymers

Abstract

Glycosylated nanoparticles hold significant promise for applications in biomedicine, because of their ability to mimic complex carbohydrate interactions. Herein, we report the synthesis of block copolymers featuring both a glycosylated segment and a charged block via RAFT polymerization and postpolymerization modifications. Additionally, we prepared glycosylated polyplex micelles by mixing oppositely charged glycosylated block copolymers in aqueous media. Electrostatic interactions between the charged segments occur, triggering the formation of glycosylated nanoparticles with a polyplex core. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized via dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ-potential measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which confirmed their nonspherical morphology. Furthermore, we expanded this strategy by incorporating oppositely charged homopolymers, highlighting the versatility of our approach. These findings demonstrate a robust and modular platform for the design of glycosylated nanoparticles, paving the way for future exploration of their dynamic properties and potential use as responsive carriers for drug delivery.