Diffusion of nanomaterials through biological membranes is of significant interest for drug delivery. We have developed a range of sub-100 nm silica and gold nanoparticles decorated with various poly(2-oxazolines). Silica nanoparticles were synthesized using self-condensation of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane in dimethylsulfoxide in the presence of air resulting in dispersion of thiolated particles. These nanoparticles were subsequently functionalized by reacting with alkyne terminated poly(2-oxazolines). Gold nanoparticles were synthesized by reduction of chloroauric acid in aqueous solutions in the presence of poly(2-oxazolines). Both types of nanoparticles were additionally fluorescently labelled. The nanoparticles decorated with poly(2-oxazolines) were characterized using dynamic light scattering, nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy, small angle neutron scattering and thermogravimetric analysis. The diffusion of these nanoparticles in aqueous dispersion of porcine gastric mucin was studied using nanoparticle tracking analysis. It was established that decoration of nanoparticles with poly(2-oxazolines) facilitates their diffusion in mucin dispersions and is similar to the behavior of the nanoparticles decorated with polyethylene glycol. The nanoparticles decorated with poly(2-oxazolines) and polyethylene glycol were also found to be more diffusive through freshly excised porcine stomach mucus compared to polymer-free parent nanoparticles. The nature of a poly(2-oxazoline) coating was found to affect the rate of nanoparticle diffusion through mucus gel. Silica decorated with poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) were found to be significantly more diffusive in gastric mucin than the nanoparticles coated with poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and poly(2-n-propyl-2-oxazoline), or the unfunctionalized silica. The enhanced diffusivity of nanoparticles decorated with poly(2-oxazoline) through mucosal barriers could provide an excellent platform for designing novel nanomedicines for transmucosal drug delivery (Nanoscale, 2015, 7, 13671–13679).

Poly(2-oxazoline)-decorated nanomaterials: Synthesis, characterization and mucus penetration

252nd National Meeting (2016)

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