Surface-modification of polyelectrolyte multilayer-coated particles for biological applications

Abstract

Layer-by-layer multilayer films of poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and 4th generation poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (4G PAMAM) assembled on particle supports were modified by a stepwise process involving (i) cross-linking of free amino groups of PSS/4G PAMAM multilayers using a bifunctional cross-linking agent, gluteraldehyde, which simultaneously chemically activates the surface, (ii) covalently linking the free aldehyde groups made available from the cross-linker with octadecylamine (fatty-acylation), and (iii) adsorbing a poly(ethylene glycol) (molecular weight ∼2000) derivative of distearylphosphatidylethanolamine (PEG2000-DSPE) on the fatty-acylated surface (PEGylation). Microelectrophoresis,..