Nanoparticles made of metal-organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) are becoming of increasing interest as drug carriers. However, preventing nanoMOFs recognition and clearance by the innate immune system, a prerequisite for biomedical applications, presents an important challenge. In this study we provide a proof of concept that the outer surface of biocompatible iron-based nanoMOFs can be functionalized in a rapid, organic solvent-free and non-covalent manner using a novel family of comb-like copolymers made of dextran (DEX) grafted with both poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and alendronate (ALN) moieties. We describe the synthesis and full characterization of DEX-PEG-ALN copolymers by click chemistry, with control of both the amount of grafted PEG and ALN moieties. The copolymers, freely soluble in aqueous media, were used to directly coat the nanoMOFs in water by simple incubation at room temperature. The coating procedure did not affect the nanoMOFs' morphology nor their crystalline structure. As strong iron complexing groups, the ALN moieties ensured multiple cooperative anchoring of the copolymers to the nanoMOFs surface, resulting in stable coatings that substantially decreased their internalization by macrophages in vitro, providing new perspectives for biomedical applications.
A simple and green synthetic protocol for the rapid and effective preparation of Ag, Au and Au@Ag core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) is reported based on the light irradiation of a biocompatible, water‐soluble dextran functionalized with benzophenone (BP) in the presence of AgNO3, HAuCl4, or both. Photoactivation of the BP moiety produces the highly reducing ketyl radicals through fast (<50 ns) intramolecular H‐abstraction from the dextran scaffold, which, in turn, ensures excellent dispersibility of the obtained metal NPs in water. The antibacterial activity of the AgNPs and the photothermal action of the Au@Ag core–shell are also shown.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.