Multifunctional Fluorinated Copolymer Nanoparticles via a Cationic Dendritic-Based Macromolecular RAFT-CTA

Abstract

As the field of theranostics expands, an imminent need arises for multifaceted polymer-based nanotechnologies for clinical application. In this work, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous emulsion polymerization is used to form ¹⁹F-containing amphiphilic hybrid block copolymers (HBCs). Employing a cationic dendritic macromolecular chain transfer agent (mCTA), polymer frameworks comprised of chemically distinctive blocks of differing architectures (i.e., dendritic and grafted/linear) are strategically designed and synthesized. In aqueous media, self-assembled polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) are formed. Their physicochemical properties and their potential as biomaterials for MRI applications are assessed. By showcasing a newly established mCTA and using these resulting PNPs as imaging probes, the work expands the design space of RAFT polymerization in biomedical research, paving the way for the development of more effective and versatile MRI imaging tools.