Wang Jing, Chen Huazhen, Chen Dazhi, Luo Yuchao, Shen Zhi-Li, Zhang Ning-Ning, Dong Biqin, Tian Wenjing, Liu Kun, Xu Bin
State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Qianjin Street No. 2699, Changchun 130012, China.
Academy for Engineering and Technology, Yiwu Research Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Nano Lett. 2025 May 28;25(21):8758-8767. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c01764. Epub 2025 May 16.
Gold nanotetrapods (NTPs) possess sharp branched tips, high surface-to-volume ratios, and strong localized surface plasmon resonance in the near-infrared (NIR) region, making them candidates for biomedical applications. However, their practical use is limited by structural instability and inadequate biocompatibility in complex physiological environments. In this study, we developed an innovative in situ radical polymerization technique to encapsulate NTPs with a thin, cross-linked zwitterionic polymer shell, forming highly stable and biocompatible nanoparticles (NTP@XP). The polymer shell preserved the tetrapod structure and endowed NTPs with tunable surface properties through the polymerization of different monomers. Under NIR irradiation, NTP@XP exhibited enhanced photoacoustic imaging and a photothermal conversion performance in vitro. In vivo, the antifouling and biocompatible coating of NTP@XP allowed durable imaging and suppressed tumor regrowth in mice. This work establishes in situ polymerization as a robust strategy to stabilize NTPs, paving the way for various biomedical fields.
金纳米四脚体（NTPs）具有尖锐的分支尖端、高的表面体积比以及在近红外（NIR）区域强烈的局域表面等离子体共振，这使得它们成为生物医学应用的候选材料。然而，它们在复杂生理环境中的实际应用受到结构不稳定性和生物相容性不足的限制。在本研究中，我们开发了一种创新的原位自由基聚合技术，用一层薄的、交联的两性离子聚合物壳包裹NTPs，形成高度稳定且生物相容的纳米颗粒（NTP@XP）。聚合物壳保留了四脚体结构，并通过不同单体的聚合赋予NTPs可调节的表面性质。在近红外照射下，NTP@XP在体外表现出增强的光声成像和光热转换性能。在体内，NTP@XP的抗污和生物相容性涂层允许在小鼠体内进行持久成像并抑制肿瘤再生。这项工作将原位聚合确立为稳定NTPs的一种强大策略，为各种生物医学领域铺平了道路。
