Bioinspired and Multifunctional Phospholipid Polymer Nanoparticles

Photoreactive and cytocompatible polymer nanoparticles for immobilizing and photoinduced releasing proteins were prepared. A water-soluble and amphiphilic phospholipid polymer, poly (2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-co-n-butyl methacrylate (BMA)-co-4-(4-(1-methacryloyloxyethyl)-2-methoxy-5-nitrophenoxy) butyric acid (PL)) (PMB-PL) was synthesized. The PMB-PL underwent a cleavage reaction at the PL unit by photoirradiation at a wavelength of 365 nm. Additionally, the PMB-PL took polymer aggregate in aqueous medium and was used to modify the surface of biodegradable poly (L-lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticle as an emulsifier. The morphology of the PMB-PL/PLA nanoparticle was spherical and approximately 130 nm in diameter. The carboxylic acid group in the PL unit could be used for immobilization of proteins by covalent bonding. The bound proteins were released by a photoinduced cleavage reaction. Within 60 sec, up to 90% of the immobilized proteins were released by photoirradiation and activity of the protein released in the medium was maintained as well as that the original proteins before immobilization. Octa-arginine (R8) could promote internalization of the protein/PLA/PMB-PL nanoparticles into cells when the R8 was co-immobilized on the nanoparticles. After that, photoirradiation induced protein release from the nanoparticles and proteins distributed more evenly inside cells. From these results, we concluded that PMB-PL/PLA nanoparticles have the potential to be used as smart carriers to deliver proteins to biological systems, such as the inside of living cells.