Thiofunctional polymers, especially thiol-terminated terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-SH) are the established standard for the coating and biofunctionalization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). However, the highly nucleophilic and oxidative character of thiols limits the possibilities introducing functional groups and provokes polymeric crosslinking.<br/>We have thus examined whether thioether may be used as alternative to thiols for stabilizing gold colloids. Here we present a systematic comparison of PEG-SH and PEG thioether (PEG-SR) with multifunctional analogs, linear polyglycidol (PG) with multiple thiols (PG SH) or ethylthioether (PG-SR) as coating system for AuNPs [1]. We show that especially the multivalent PG-SR displays outstanding colloidal stabilization, even under physiological conditions and after lyophilization and resuspension of such coated particles. Furthermore, the non-nucleophilic and non-oxidative character of thioether moieties provides the introduction of any functional mercaptan compound to allyl groups of the PG-SR backbone via thiol-ene click reaction [2]. In this manner a library of multifunctional PG-SR for AuNP coating was generated, featuring functionalities, such as charged moieties [3], as well as biotin and diazirine components that can be used as generic tool for covalent immobilization of bioactive molecules.<br/>In addition, we show the applicability of such a coating for silver nanoparticles (AgNPs).<br/><br/>

Thioether–polyglycidol as multivalent and multifunctional coating system for metal nanoparticles

2019 Fall National Meeting

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