Nanoparticles created from amphiphilic hybrid block copolymers (HBCs) have been upheld as promising candidates for various applications, including bioimaging, therapeutic delivery and diagnosis. Comprised of chemically distinctive blocks of differing architectures, these unique polymer frameworks possess properties that surpass those of conventional amphiphilic polymers. However, a lack of synthetic feasibility has hindered the widespread adoption of amphiphilic HBCs due to challenges with distinct solubility of the blocks, steric effects of the branched block on copolymerization and purification of end products. Herein, we report the use of aqueous reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to form dendritic HBCs and assess their potential as biomaterials for theranostic application. The synthesis, physicochemical characterization, and in vitro cell viability of a library of dendritic HBCs and their resulting nanoparticles are discussed. Microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis support aqueous dispersion resulting in polymeric nanoparticles of &lt; 120 nm size. Additionally, the resulting polymer hybrids and their nanoparticles displayed minimal cell toxicity and potential for dual imaging and therapy. This study exemplifies the effect of polymer topology on nanomaterial properties and expands the design space of RAFT polymerization in biomedical research.

Amphiphilic dendritic hybrid block copolymers (HBCs) for biomedical applications

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