As a relatively new class of materials, single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) just entered the field of (biomedical) applications, with recent advances in polymer science enabling the formation of bio-inspired nanosized architectures. Exclusive intramolecular collapse of individual polymer chains results in individual nanoparticles. With sizes an order of magnitude smaller than conventional polymer nanoparticles, SCNPs are in the size regime of many proteins and viruses (1-20 nm). Multifaceted syntheses and design strategies give access to a wide set of highly modular SCNP materials. This review describes how SCNPs have been rendered water-soluble and highlights ongoing research efforts towards biocompatible SCNPs with tunable properties for controlled drug delivery, targeted imaging and protein mimicry.

Single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCNPs) are protein-inspired materials based on intramolecularly cross-linked polymer chains. We report here the development of SCNPs as uniquely sized nanocarriers that are capable of drug encapsulation independent of the polarity of the employed medium. Synthetic routes are presented for SCNP preparation in both organic and aqueous environments. Importantly, the SCNPs in organic media were successfully rendered water soluble, resulting in two complementary pathways toward water-soluble SCNPs with comparable resultant physicochemical characteristics. The solvatochromic dye Nile red was successfully encapsulated inside the SCNPs following both pathways, enabling probing of the SCNP interior. Moreover, the antibiotic rifampicin was encapsulated in organic medium, the loaded nanocarriers were rendered water soluble, and a controlled release of rifampicin was evidenced. The absence of discernible cytotoxic effects and promising cellular uptake behavior bode well for the application of SCNPs in controlled therapeutics delivery.

Naturally occurring glycoconjugates possess carbohydrate moieties that fulfill essential roles in many biological functions. Through conjugation of carbohydrates to therapeutics or imaging agents, naturally occurring glycoconjugates are mimicked and efficient targeting or increased cellular uptake of glycoconjugated macromolecules is achieved. In this work, linear and cyclic glucose moieties were functionalized with methacrylates via enzymatic synthesis and used as building blocks for intramolecular cross-linked single-chain glycopolymer nanoparticles (glyco-SCNPs). A set of water-soluble sub-10 nm-sized glyco-SCNPs was prepared by thiol-Michael addition cross-linking in water. Bioactivity of various glucose-conjugated glycopolymers and glyco-SCNPs was evaluated in binding studies with the glucose-specific lectin Concanavalin A and by comparing their cellular uptake efficiency in HeLa cells. Cytotoxicity studies did not reveal discernible cytotoxic effects, making these SCNPs promising candidates for ligand-based targeted imaging and drug delivery.

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Proteins are biopolymers folded into 3D-structures and are omnipresent in biological systems, where they fulfil a wide array of complex functions. Mimicking the exceptional characteristics of proteins with synthetic analogues...