School of Life Science and Technology , Tokyo Institute of Technology , B-57 4259 Nagatsuta-cho , Midori-ku, Yokohama , Kanagawa 226-8501 , Japan.
Langmuir. 2019 Apr 23;35(16):5581-5586. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b00450. Epub 2019 Apr 15.
Liposomes are self-assembled vesicles of amphiphilic lipid molecules, which have been investigated as models of cells, or tools for drug delivery systems. In these systems, the surface property of the liposomes plays an important role. In this study, we demonstrated a novel polymer modification of liposome surfaces using a controlled radical polymerization, "activators regenerated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization", in aqueous media without a deoxygenation step. Dynamic light scattering and H NMR measurement indicated the successful modification of the polymer on the liposome surface. The molecular weight of the grafted polymer chain was systematically controlled by changing the monomer concentrations in the "grafting from" polymerization. Moreover, the modification resulted in a notable increase in surface softness as indicated by electrophoretic behavior, which was comparable to the surface of cells. The preparation method and the characterization presented in this study would be a helpful guideline in designing the polymer/liposome hybrid having target surface properties.
脂质体是两亲性脂质分子自组装的囊泡，已被研究作为细胞模型或药物传递系统的工具。在这些系统中，脂质体的表面性质起着重要作用。在本研究中，我们在水相介质中无需脱氧步骤，使用“电子转移再生的引发剂用于原子转移自由基聚合”的可控自由基聚合，展示了一种新型的脂质体表面聚合物修饰方法。动态光散射和 H NMR 测量表明，聚合物成功地修饰在脂质体表面上。通过改变“从接枝”聚合中的单体浓度，系统地控制接枝聚合物链的分子量。此外，修饰导致电泳行为表明表面柔软度显著增加，与细胞表面相当。本研究中提出的制备方法和特性将有助于设计具有目标表面性质的聚合物/脂质体杂化物。
