This study reports a novel nanoparticle system with simple and modular one-step assembly, which can respond intelligently to biologically relevant variations in pH. Importantly, these particles also show the ability to induce escape from the endosomal/lysosomal compartments of the cell, which is integral to the design of efficient polymeric delivery systems. The nanoparticles were formed by the nanoprecipitation of pH-responsive poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) and poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PDEAEMA-b-PEG). Rhodamine B octadecyl ester perchlorate was successfully encapsulated within the hydrophobic core of the nanoparticle upon nanoprecipitation into PBS at pH 8. These particles disassembled when the pH was reduced below 6.8 at 37 °C. Cellular experiments showed the successful uptake of the nanoparticles into the endosomal/lysosomal compartments of 3T3 fibroblast cells. The ability to induce escape from the endosomes was demonstrated by the use of calcein, a membrane-impermeable fluorophore. The modular nature of these particles combined with promising endosomal escape capabilities make these dual component PDEAEMA nanoparticles useful for drug and gene delivery applications.

The effective escape of nanocarriers from endosomal compartments of the cell remains a major hurdle in nanomedicine. The endosomal escape of pH-responsive, self-assembled, dual component particles based on poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)(PDEAEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PEG-b-PDEAEMA) has been recently reported. Herein, we report that polymer molecular weight (M ) can be used to tune endosomal escape of nanoparticle delivery systems. PDEAEMA of M 7 kDa, 27 kDa, 56 kDa and 106 kDa was synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and co-assembled with PEG-b-PDEAEMA (16 kDa) via nanoprecipitation. All particles had similar size, displayed pH-responsive behaviour, and low toxicity regardless of molecular weight. Ovalbumin was loaded in the particles to demonstrate loading and release capabilities and as a marker to study internalization and endosomal escape. Association and endosomal escape was found to depend on molecular weight, with enhanced escape observed for high M PDEAEMA: 42% of cells with particle induced endosomal escape for 106 kDa nanoparticles, compared to minimal escape for 7 kDa particles. The results show that a simple variation in molecular weight can enhance the endosomal escape of polymeric carriers, and thus improve their effectiveness for intracellular delivery of therapeutics.

The properties and structures of viruses are directly related to the three-dimensional structure of their capsid proteins,w hich arises from ac ombination of hydrophobic and supramolecular interactions,such as hydrogen bonds.The design of synthetic materials demonstrating similar synergistic interactions still remains ac hallenge.H erein, we report the synthesis of ap olymer/cyclic peptide conjugate that combines the capability to form supramolecular nanotubes via hydrogen bonds with the properties of an amphiphilic blockcopolymer. The analysis of aqueous solutions by scattering and imaging techniques revealed ab arrel-shaped alignment of single peptide nanotubes into al arge tubisome (length:2 60 nm (from SANS)) with ahydrophobic core (diameter:16nm) and ahydrophilic shell. These systems,which have astructure that is similar to those of viruses,w ere tested in vitro to elucidate their activity on cells.Remarkably,the rigid tubisomes are able to perforate the lysosomal membrane in cells and release asmall molecule into the cytosol.

Directing nanoparticles to specific cell types using nonantibody-based methods is of increasing interest. Thiol-reactive nanoparticles can enhance the efficiency of cargo delivery into specific cells through interactions with cell-surface proteins. However, studies to date using this technique have been largely limited to immortalized cell lines or rodents, and the utility of this technology on primary human cells is unknown. Herein, we used RAFT polymerization to prepare pyridyl disulfide (PDS)-functionalized star polymers with a methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) brush corona and a fluorescently labeled cross-linked core using an arm-first method. PDS star polymers were examined for their interaction with primary human blood components: six separate white blood cell subsets, as well as red blood cells and platelets. Compared with control star polymers, thiol-reactive nanoparticles displayed enhanced association with white blood cells at 37 °C, particularly the phagocytic monocyte, granulocyte, and dendritic cell subsets. Platelets associated with more PDS than control nanoparticles at both 37 °C and on ice, but they were not activated in the duration examined. Association with red blood cells was minor but still enhanced with PDS nanoparticles. Thiol-reactive nanoparticles represent a useful strategy to target primary human immune cell subsets for improved nanoparticle delivery.