The use of fluorinated contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facilitates improved image quality due to the negligible amount of endogenous fluorine atoms in the body. In this work, we present a comprehensive study of the influence of the amphiphilic polymer structure and composition on its applicability as contrast agents in 19F MRI. Three series of novel fluorine-containing poly(2-oxazoline) copolymers and terpolymers, hydrophilic-fluorophilic, hydrophilic-lipophilic-fluorophilic, and hydrophilic-thermoresponsive-fluorophilic, with block and gradient distributions of the fluorinated units, were synthesized. It was discovered that the CF3 in the 2-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)-2-oxazoline (CF3EtOx) group activated the cationic chain end, leading to faster copolymerization kinetics, whereby spontaneous monomer gradients were formed with accelerated incorporation of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline or 2-n-propyl-2-oxazoline with a gradual change to the less-nucleophilic CF3EtOx monomer. The obtained amphiphilic copolymers and terpolymers form spherical or wormlike micelles in water, which was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed the core-shell or core-double-shell morphologies of these nanoparticles. The core and shell sizes obey the scaling laws for starlike micelles predicted by the scaling theory. Biocompatibility studies confirm that all copolymers obtained are noncytotoxic and, at the same time, exhibit high sensitivity during in vitro 19F MRI studies. The gradient copolymers provide the best 19F MRI signal-to-noise ratio in comparison with the analogue block copolymer structures, making them most promising as 19F MRI contrast agents.

• MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• fluor * MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl MeSH
• micely * MeSH
• polymery MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• fluor * MeSH
• micely * MeSH
• polymery MeSH

The synthesis of defined triphilic terpolymers with hydrophilic, lyophilic, and fluorophilic blocks is an important challenge as a basis for the development of multicompartment self-assembled structures with potential for, e.g., cascade catalysis and multidrug loading. The synthesis of fluorophilic poly(2-oxazoline)s generally suffers from a very low reactivity of fluorinated 2-oxazoline monomers in cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP). We report a systematic study on overcoming the extremely low reactivity of 2-perfluoroalkyl-2-oxazolines in CROP by the insertion of methyl and ethyl hydrocarbon spacers between the 2-oxazoline ring and the trifluoromethyl group. The kinetic studies showed the gradual increase of the rate of polymerization with increasing of the hydrocarbon spacer length. The monomer with an ethyl spacer was found to have similar reactivity as 2-alkyl-2-oxazolines and allowed the synthesis of defined triphilic triblock copolymers.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

We report on the physicochemical properties and self-assembly behavior of novel efficient pH-sensitive nanocontainers based on the Food and Drug Administration-approved anionic polymer Eudragit L100-55 (poly(methacrylic acid-co-ethyl acrylate) 1:1) and nonionic surfactant Brij98. The features of the interaction between Eudragit L100-55 and Brij98 at different pH values and their optimal ratio for nanoparticle formation were studied using isothermal titration calorimetry. The influence of the polymer-to-surfactant ratio on the size and structure of particles was studied at different pH values using dynamic light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering methods. It was shown that stable nanoparticles are formed at acidic pH at polymer-to-surfactant molar ratios from 1:43 to 1:139. Trypsin was successfully encapsulated into Eudragit-Brij98 nanoparticles as a model bioactive component. The loading efficiency was determined by labeling trypsin with radioactive iodine-125. Eudragit-Brij98 nanoparticles effectively protected trypsin against pepsin digestion. The results showed that trypsin encapsulated into novel pH-sensitive nanocontainers retained more than 50% of its activity after treatment with pepsin compared with nonencapsulated trypsin. The described concept will contribute both to understanding the principles of and designing next-generation nanocontainers.

• MeSH
• akrylové pryskyřice chemie   MeSH
• difrakce rentgenového záření MeSH
• dynamický rozptyl světla MeSH
• koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
• maloúhlový rozptyl MeSH
• nanočástice chemie   MeSH
• nosiče léků chemie   MeSH
• oleje rostlin chemie   MeSH
• polyelektrolyty chemie   MeSH
• polyethylenglykoly chemie   MeSH
• povrchově aktivní látky chemie   MeSH
• radioizotopy jodu MeSH
• skot MeSH
• trypsin chemie   MeSH
• velikost částic MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• akrylové pryskyřice MeSH
• Eudragit L100-55 MeSH Prohlížeč
• nosiče léků MeSH
• oleje rostlin MeSH
• polyelektrolyty MeSH
• polyethylene glycol oleyl ether MeSH Prohlížeč
• polyethylenglykoly MeSH
• povrchově aktivní látky MeSH
• radioizotopy jodu MeSH
• trypsin MeSH