PEGylated nanoparticles for biological and pharmaceutical applications

The utility of polymeric micelles formed through the multimolecular assembly of block copolymer was comprehensively described as novel core-shell typed colloidal carriers for drug and gene targeting. Particularly, novel approaches for the formation of functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) layers as hydrophilic outer shell were focused to attain receptor-mediated drug and gene delivery through PEG-conjugated ligands with a minimal non-specific interaction with other proteins. Surface organization of block copolymer micelles with cross-linking core was also described from a standpoint of the preparation of a new functional surface-coating with a unique macromolecular architecture. The micelle-attached surface and the thin hydrogel layer made by layered micelles exhibited nonfouling properties and worked as the reservoir for hydrophobic reagents. Furthermore, the potential utility of multimolecular assembly derived from heterobifunctional PEGs and block copolymers were explored to systematically modify the properties of metal and semiconductor nanostructures by controlling their structure and their surface properties, making them extremely attractive for use in biological and biomedical applications. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.