Folic acid conjugated amino acid-based star polymers for active targeting of cancer cells

A Sulistio; J Lowenthal; A Blencowe; MN Bongiovanni; L Ong; SL Gras; X Zhang; GG Qiao

Journal article

Folic acid conjugated amino acid-based star polymers for active targeting of cancer cells

A Sulistio, J Lowenthal, A Blencowe, MN Bongiovanni, L Ong, SL Gras, X Zhang, GG Qiao

Biomacromolecules | Published : 2011

DOI: 10.1021/bm200604h

Abstract

Amino acid-based core cross-linked star (CCS) polymers (poly(l-lysine) armpoly(l-cystine) core) with peripheral allyl functionalities were synthesized by sequential ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) via the arm-first approach, using N-(trimethylsilyl)allylamine as the initiator. Subsequent functionalization with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-folic acid conjugate via thiol-ene click chemistry afforded poly(PEG-b-l-lysine) armpoly(l-cystine) core stars with outer PEG coronas decorated with folic acid targeting moieties. Similarly, a control was prepared without folic acid, using just PEG. A fluorophore was used to track both star polymers incubated with..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Lydia Ong Author

Sally Gras Author

Greg Qiao Author

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POLYMER CHARACTERISATION FACILITY (PCF)

Future development of macromolecular and biotechnologies have the potential to revolutionize everyday life. Current applications include pla..

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Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Angus Johnston and Ms. Sher Leen Ng for their help with confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. A.S. is a recipient of CSIRO Food Future Flagship Scholarship. The MALDI ToF MS used in these studies was supported under the Australian Research Council's Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) funding scheme (LE0882576).