Functionalization of inorganic nanoparticles with polymers for stealth biomedical applications

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Functionalization of inorganic nanoparticles with polymers for stealth biomedical applications

Koon Gee Neoh*^a and En Tang Kang^a

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* Corresponding authors

^a Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore

Abstract

Inorganic nanoparticles offer great opportunities in biomedicine, for example, serving as contrast agents for imaging, hyperthermia agents and drug delivery vehicles. A critical factor limiting the applications of nanoparticles for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes is their short circulation time in vivo due to clearance by the body's reticuloendothelial system. One of the most efficient strategies to confer stealthiness to nanoparticles is the use of a polymer “cloak” which inhibits plasma protein adsorption and recognition by the immune system. This review describes some of the polymers which are suitable for these applications, and the strategies which can be employed to functionalize inorganic nanoparticles with such polymers.

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Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C0PY00266F
Article type: Review Article
Submitted: 18 Aug 2010
Accepted: 10 Oct 2010
First published: 29 Oct 2010

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Polym. Chem., 2011,2, 747-759

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