Journal
COLLOID AND POLYMER SCIENCE
Volume 286, Issue 8-9, Pages 907-916Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00396-008-1846-6
Keywords
core-shell nanoparticles; acid-modified chitosan; poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA); gene carrier; surfactant-free
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The core-shell nanoparticles consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) cores surrounded by various acid-modified chitosan shells were synthesized using a surfactant-free emulsion copolymerization, induced by a tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) solution. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was grafted onto four acid-modified chitosans (hydrochloric, lactic, aspartic, and glutamic acids) with MMA conversions up to 64%. The prepared nanoparticles had diameter ranging from 100 to 300 nm characterized by atomic force microscopy and displayed highly positive surface charges up to +77 mV. Transmission electron microscopic images clearly revealed well-defined core-shell morphology of the nanoparticles where PMMA cores were coated with acid-modified chitosan shells. The effect of acid-modified chitosans on particle size, intensity of surface charge, morphology, and thermal stability were determined systematically. The plasmid DNA/nanoparticles complexes were investigated with zeta-potential measurement. The results suggested that these nanoparticles can effectively complex with plasmid DNAs via electrostatic interaction and could be used as gene carriers.
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