Thiolated polyaspartamide is an effective biocompatible coating agent for quantum dots

The objective of this study was to prepare, characterize and test in different cell lines new polymers which could be used as coating materials for nanoparticles. Poly[α,β-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-DL-aspartamide)]-poly[α,β-(N-2-thioethyl-DL-aspartamide)]-copolymers (PHTA) were prepared by aminolysis of poly-DL-(2,5-dioxo-1,3-pyrrolidinediyl (polysuccinimide, PSI) with cysteamine and ethanolamine. Results from these studies suggest that PHTA is a biocompatible biopolymer which can stabilize CdTe quantum dots and prevent ROS-induced cytotoxicity in human breast MCF-7 cells and lung carcinoma cells A549. PHTA and similar polymers can be easily functionalized thereby providing suitable nanoparticle surface coating and functionalized nanomedicines.