Preparation of nanoparticles composed with bioinspired 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymer

The poly(L-lactic acid) nanoparticles immobilized with 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer, which has excellent blood compatibility, were prepared by a solvent evaporation technique using the water-soluble amphiphilic MPC polymer as an emulsifier and a surface modifier. The diameter and zeta -potential of the obtained nanoparticles strongly depended on the concentration of the MPC polymer. When the nanoparticles were prepared in 1.0 mg/ml of an MPC polymer aqueous solution, the diameter was 221 nm which was determined by atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering measurements. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis indicated that the phosphorylcholine groups of the MPC unit were located at the surface of the nanoparticles, that is, the MPC polymer was immobilized on the PLA particles and the surface zeta -potential was -2.5 mV. Various hydrophobic fluorescence probes could permeate through the MPC polymer layer and adsorb on the PLA surface. The amount of bovine serum albumin adsorbed on the nanoparticles was significantly smaller compared with that on the conventional polystyrene nanoparticles. It is suggested that the nanoparticles immobilized with the MPC polymer have the potential for use as both a novel drug carrier and diagnostic reagent which can come in contact with blood components. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.