Nanotechnology Now

Our NanoNews Digest Sponsors
Heifer International



Home > Press > A New Playground for Particle Design

Researchers from the University of Jena (Germany) designed glycopolymeric materials with tailored properties to independently study the parameters that impact cellular uptake.
Researchers from the University of Jena (Germany) designed glycopolymeric materials with tailored properties to independently study the parameters that impact cellular uptake.

Abstract:
Synthetic polymers offer the possibility to introduce biologically active moieties and to design tailor-made macromolecules with well-defined architectures and properties. The design of glycopolymeric materials with tailored properties has become a very important topic of interest in current chemistry, biology, and medicine.

A New Playground for Particle Design

Germany | Posted on August 10th, 2012

The main reason behind this significance lies within their structure. A glycopolymer, by definition, consists of a synthetic polymeric backbone with covalently-linked, pendant carbohydrate moieties. The backbone may be composed of various monomeric units, in different arrangements. As a consequence, it provides the possibility to adjust the physical properties, such as water solubility of the final material.

The second building block of a glycopolymer consists of pendant sugar moieties which act as ligands for a broad spectrum of protein receptors that play an important role in different cell-surface interactions. Therefore, the structure of synthetic glycopolymers allows the precise modification of their material and biological features for special biomedical purposes.

Now, the research group around Ulrich Schubert (University of Jena) have demonstrated that poly(pentafluorostyrene)-based glycopolymers also possess the above-mentioned properties. By the introduction of hydrophobic polystyrene block into the backbone they can modify the water solubility of the system and obtain amphiphilic glycopolymers. These materials do not dissolve in aqueous environments. Under appropriate conditions they form nanoparticles with carbohydrates on the surface. By the introduction of glucose or galactose the recognition and uptake of these polymers by liver cancer cells is modified.

Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry show that nanoparticles are taken up by these cells to a higher degree than respective water soluble polymers, and that internalization of galactosylated materials is enhanced. These glycopolymers can find a multitude of potential applications in, for example, liver tumor-targeted chemotherapy, imaging, and as extracellular matrices for hepatocytes.

####

For more information, please click here

Copyright © Wiley-VCH Materials Science Journals

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark:
Delicious Digg Newsvine Google Yahoo Reddit Magnoliacom Furl Facebook

Related Links

Link to the original paper on Wiley Online Library:

Related News Press

News and information

Flexible electronics integrated with paper-thin structure for use in space January 17th, 2025

‘Brand new physics’ for next generation spintronics: Physicists discover a unique quantum behavior that offers a new way to manipulate electron-spin and magnetization to push forward cutting-edge spintronic technologies, like computing that mimics the human brain January 17th, 2025

Quantum engineers ‘squeeze’ laser frequency combs to make more sensitive gas sensors January 17th, 2025

How a milk component could eliminate one of the biggest challenges in treating cancer and other disease, including rare diseases: Nebraska startup to use nanoparticles found in milk to target therapeutics to specific cells January 17th, 2025

Chemistry

Chainmail-like material could be the future of armor: First 2D mechanically interlocked polymer exhibits exceptional flexibility and strength January 17th, 2025

Breaking carbon–hydrogen bonds to make complex molecules November 8th, 2024

New method in the fight against forever chemicals September 13th, 2024

Catalyzing environmental cleanup: A highly active and selective molecular catalyst and electrified membrane: Innovative electrochemical catalyst breaks down trichloroethylene pollutants at unprecedented rate September 13th, 2024

Nanomedicine

How a milk component could eliminate one of the biggest challenges in treating cancer and other disease, including rare diseases: Nebraska startup to use nanoparticles found in milk to target therapeutics to specific cells January 17th, 2025

Exosomes: A potential biomarker and therapeutic target in diabetic cardiomyopathy November 8th, 2024

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers develop novel covalent organic frameworks for precise cancer treatment delivery: NYU Abu Dhabi researchers develop novel covalent organic frameworks for precise cancer treatment delivery September 13th, 2024

Unveiling the power of hot carriers in plasmonic nanostructures August 16th, 2024

Discoveries

Autonomous AI assistant to build nanostructures: An interdisciplinary research group at TU Graz is working on constructing logic circuits through the targeted arrangement of individual molecules: Artificial intelligence should speed up the process enormously January 17th, 2025

‘Brand new physics’ for next generation spintronics: Physicists discover a unique quantum behavior that offers a new way to manipulate electron-spin and magnetization to push forward cutting-edge spintronic technologies, like computing that mimics the human brain January 17th, 2025

Quantum engineers ‘squeeze’ laser frequency combs to make more sensitive gas sensors January 17th, 2025

How a milk component could eliminate one of the biggest challenges in treating cancer and other disease, including rare diseases: Nebraska startup to use nanoparticles found in milk to target therapeutics to specific cells January 17th, 2025

Announcements

Quantum engineers ‘squeeze’ laser frequency combs to make more sensitive gas sensors January 17th, 2025

How a milk component could eliminate one of the biggest challenges in treating cancer and other disease, including rare diseases: Nebraska startup to use nanoparticles found in milk to target therapeutics to specific cells January 17th, 2025

The National Space Society Congratulates SpaceX on Starship’s 7th Test Flight: Latest Test of the Megarocket Hoped to Demonstrate a Number of New Technologies and Systems January 17th, 2025

The National Space Society Congratulates Blue Origin on the Inaugural Flight of New Glenn: The Heavy Lift Reusable Rocket Will Open New Frontiers and Provide Healthy Competition January 17th, 2025

Nanobiotechnology

How a milk component could eliminate one of the biggest challenges in treating cancer and other disease, including rare diseases: Nebraska startup to use nanoparticles found in milk to target therapeutics to specific cells January 17th, 2025

Exosomes: A potential biomarker and therapeutic target in diabetic cardiomyopathy November 8th, 2024

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers develop novel covalent organic frameworks for precise cancer treatment delivery: NYU Abu Dhabi researchers develop novel covalent organic frameworks for precise cancer treatment delivery September 13th, 2024

Nanobody inhibits metastasis of breast tumor cells to lung in mice: “In the present study we describe the development of an inhibitory nanobody directed against an extracellular epitope present in the native V-ATPase c subunit.” August 16th, 2024

NanoNews-Digest
The latest news from around the world, FREE




  Premium Products
NanoNews-Custom
Only the news you want to read!
 Learn More
NanoStrategies
Full-service, expert consulting
 Learn More











ASP
Nanotechnology Now Featured Books




NNN

The Hunger Project