Versatile Coating Platform for Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Applications to Materials and Biological Science

In this feature article, we provide an overview of our research on statistical copolymers as a coating material for metal oxide nanoparticles and surfaces. These copolymers contain functional groups enabling noncovalent binding to oxide surfaces and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymers for colloidal stability and stealthiness. The functional groups are organic derivatives of phosphorous acid compounds R-H2PO3, also known as phosphonic acids that have been screened for their strong affinity to metals and for their multidentate binding ability. Herein we develop a polymer-based coating platform that shares features with the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and layer-by-layer (L-b-L) deposition techniques. The milestones of this endeavor are the synthesis of PEG-based copolymers containing multiple phosphonic acid groups, the implementation of simple protocols combining versatility with high particle production yields, and the experimental evidence of the colloidal stability of the coated particles. As a demonstration, coating studies are conducted on cerium (CeO2), iron (gamma-Fe2O3), aluminum (Al2O3), and titanium (TiO2) oxides of different sizes and morphologies. We finally discuss applications in the domain of nanomaterials and nanomedicine. We evaluate the beneficial effects of coatings on redispersible nanopowders, contrast agents for in vitro/vivo assays, and stimuli-responsive particles.

Automated summary

In this feature article, the authors provide an overview of their research on using statistical copolymers as a coating material for metal oxide nanoparticles and surfaces. They develop a polymer-based coating platform that shares features with self-assembled monolayer and layer-by-layer deposition techniques. The synthesized copolymers containing phosphonic acid groups show strong affinity to metals and experimental evidence of colloidal stability of the coated particles. Applications in nanomaterials and nanomedicine are also discussed, including the beneficial effects of coatings on nanopowders, contrast agents, and stimuli-responsive particles.