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Influence of Surfactant Structure on Photoluminescent ?-Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles: Interfacial Properties and Protein Binding

Urbano, Laura, Clifton, Luke Ashley, Ku, Hoi Ki, Kendall-Troughton, Hannah, Vandera, Kalliopi-Kelli A., Matarèse, Bruno F.E., Abelha, Thais Fedatto, Li, Peixun, Desai, Tejal A., Dreiss, Cecile A., and others. (2018) Influence of Surfactant Structure on Photoluminescent ?-Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles: Interfacial Properties and Protein Binding. Langmuir, 34 (21). pp. 6125-6137. ISSN 0743-7463. (doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b00561) (KAR id:66993)

Abstract

π-Conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) are under investigation as photoluminescent agents for diagnostics and bioimaging. To determine whether the choice of surfactant can improve CPN properties and prevent protein adsorption, five nonionic polyethylene glycol alkyl ether surfactants were used to produce CPNs from three representative π-conjugated polymers. The surfactant structure did not influence size or yield, which was dependent on the nature of the conjugated polymer. Hydrophobic interaction chromatography, contact angle, quartz crystal microbalance, and neutron reflectivity studies were used to assess the affinity of the surfactant to the conjugated polymer surface and indicated that all surfactants were displaced by the addition of a model serum protein. In summary, CPN preparation methods which rely on surface coating of a conjugated polymer core with amphiphilic surfactants may produce systems with good yields and colloidal stability in vitro, but may be susceptible to significant surface alterations in physiological fluids.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b00561
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Robert Barker
Date Deposited: 11 May 2018 09:27 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Dec 2022 03:25 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/66993 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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