Engineered polyester-PEG nanoparticles prepared through a “grafting through” strategy and post-functionalization via Michael type addition

In this work, a flexible “grafting through” strategy based on Ring opening polymerization (ROP) and FRP was proposed to obtain engineered polyester-PEG nanoparticles functionalized with acrylate groups on the hydrophilic shell. The presence of acrylates allows a versatile surface functionalization through Michael-type addition with a thiolated ligand (peptide), in aqueous solution under physiological pH, with the advantage of high conversion and absence of reaction side products. A cysteine-containing cyclic RGD was used as model peptide for conjugation, due to its potential application as ligand for endothelial cells. Results indicated that active cell targeting can be achieved by using this surface functionalization approach.