Controlled, simultaneous assembly of polyethylenimine onto nanoparticle silica colloids

A novel precision-assembly methodology is described on the basis of the controlled, simultaneous assembly (CSA) of a core nanoparticle substrate and polyelectrolyte solutions. The method is capable of assembly rates at least as fast as 10(16) core particles s(-1) L-1 and affords concentrated suspensions of stable colloids with an adsorbed polyelectrolyte. The resulting dispersions are highly homogeneous, have a low viscosity and narrow particle-size distribution, and are stable colloids, even at solid concentrations of at least 33 wt %. The adsorption isotherm and the saturation adsorption for polyethylenimine (PEI) assemblies onto a 15 nm silica colloid have been evaluated with H-1 NMR spectroscopy. The saturation adsorption is highly dependent upon the pH at assembly and is given by the equation PEIa (mu mol m(-2)) = 1.73pH - 1.89, R-2 = 0.986, where micromoles refers to the concentration of the El monomer. The saturation concentration increases from 6.8 mu mol m(-2) at pH 5.0 to 13.7 mu mol m(-2) at pH 9.0. The adsorbed polyelectrolyte may be cross-linked and thereby permanently fixed to the colloid surface to prepare nanoparticle-polyelectrolyte colloidal assemblies having enhanced colloid stability, high homogeneity, and a high fraction (> 80%) of permanently adsorbed polyelectrolyte. These assemblies are stable at physiological pH and ionic strength and may represent ideal substrates for bioconjugation and, ultimately, the design of nanocarriers for in vivo applications.