Cellular uptake of tailored copolymer synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization

The tailored copolymer poly(methoxy-PEG acrylate-co-N-hydroxysuccinimide-co-fluorescein diacetate 5-maleimide) (P1) and block copolymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(methoxy-PEG acrylate-co-N-hydroxysuccinimide-co-fluorescein diacetate 5-maleimide) (P2) were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, which were both water-soluble, fluorescent and containing active group N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Due to the temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) unit, the latter copolymer P2 formed nanoparticles at 37 °C in aqueous medium. Both P1 and P2 were taken up by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and localized mainly in the cytoplasm, which could subsequently be detected by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).