AbstractSurface-functionalized polymeric nanoparticles (NP) are a versatile medium for drug delivery and imaging. The surface functionality is typically exploited to introduce molecules such as polymers and biomolecules to improve cellular localization, DNA binding and circulation. NP bearing surface functionality are typically prepared from polymers possessing functionalizable backbones or by layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes onto unmodified particles. We have developed a process to produce functionalized polymeric NP in a single step using non-functionalized polymers. This is achieved by the entrapment of polymeric functional moieties from an aqueous phase in a rapidly solidifying polymer core. NP were characterized using light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential (ζ) measurement, fluorescent microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Stable NP ranging in diameter from 70 to 400nm with narrow polydispersity (PDI) can be produced by this process. The presence of functional moieties on the NP surface was verified by isoelectric point measurement and XPS. We foresee a number of uses for these functionalized nanoparticles, including drug delivery and modification of hard and soft material surfaces (both synthetic and biological) for tissue engineering.
