Matrix-Assisted Peptide Synthesis on New Biocompatible Nanoparticles

We have developed new biocompatible, non-degradable NPs well tolerated both in vitro and in vivo with the particularity that peptide synthesis can be carried out on their surface. Although the NP’s have a large range of well-defined sizes going from 20 to 400 nm, they are all composed of the same monomers. Their shell composition, in contact with the biological media, is uniformly composed of polyethylene-glycol, thus their biocompatibility remains high along the different sizes. A proposed peculiar mechanism of formation allowed aintaining uniform their shell composition. The conjugation of molecules to the NPs was a real challenge since they are nano-hydrogels with high colloidal stability that can only be dialyzed for eventual removal of reagents. Therefore we have designed and proved a novel solid phase peptide synthesis method for Merrifield synthesis on nanoparticles based on the embedment of the NPs in a permeable and removable magnetic matrix. Overall, the platform composed of the NPs and the synthetic peptide is a useful tool for developing imaging methods for intracellular localization of the NPs using microscopy as we have shown in vitro for PC-3 cells, and for in vivo tracking using the Zebra fish model.