Cellular uptake and
intracellular targeting to specific organelles
are key events in the cellular processing of nanomaterials. Herein,
we perform a detailed structure–property relationship study
on carboxylic acid-side-chain-bearing polyacrylates to provide design
criteria for the manipulation of their cellular interactions. Redox-initiated
reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RRAFT) polymerization
of three tert-butyl-protected N-acylated
amino ester-based acrylate monomers of different substitutions and
degrees of polymerization (DPs) yielded defined and pH-responsive
carboxylic acid-side-chain polymers upon deprotection (N-acetyl, DP 1: P(M1); N-propionyl, DP
1: P(E1), DP 2: P(E2)). Flow cytometry studies
revealed time-dependent cell association with P(E2) >
P(E1) > P(M1) at any given time point. Importantly,
the type of cyanine dye used for labeling was found to significantly
influence the cellular processing of the polymers. Changing the dye
from Cy5 to its sulfonated version sulfoCy5 resulted in a much lower
cellular association. Moreover, Cy5-labeled polymers were targeted
to mitochondria, while sulfoCy5 modification caused a significant
change in the cellular fate of polymers toward lysosome trafficking.
This study highlights the importance of selecting a suitable dye but
also demonstrates the possibilities for the rational design of organelle-specific
targeting of carboxylated polyacrylates.