Glycoparticles and bioactive films prepared by emulsion polymerization using a well-defined block glycopolymer stabilizer

Abstract

A well-defined amphiphilic diblock glycopolymer of poly(2-{[(D-glucosamin-2-N-yl)carbonyl]oxy}ethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(butyl methacrylate) (PHEMAGl-b-PBMA) was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Due to its capability to form micelles in aqueous solution, the obtained block glycopolymer was used as polymeric surfactant in the emulsion polymerization of butyl methacrylate in order to prepare glycosylated polymer particles. Core–shell particles consisting of a soft core of poly(butyl methacrylate) covered with glycopolymer bearing glucose moieties were obtained. Then these latex particles were employed to prepare polymer films with active surface. The surface bioactivity of this polymer coating was examined using the specific lectin Concanavalin A, Canavalia ensiformis. The specific and successful binding to the Concanavalin A was demonstrated by both fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy being more intense with increasing concentration of block glycopolymer surfactant. The good accessibility of the glucose moieties at the surface of the coating makes this method a powerful tool to achieve potential materials for biomedical applications involving molecular recognition processes.