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A series of novel sialoglycopolypeptides carryingN-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc)-containing trisaccharides having α(2 → 3)- and α(2 → 6)-linkages in the side chains of γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) were designed as competitive inhibitors against equine influenza viruses (EIV), which critically recognize the Neu5Gc residue for receptor binding. Using horse red blood cells (HRBC) we successfully evaluated the binding activity of the multivalent Neu5Gc ligands to both equine and canine influenza viruses in the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. Our findings show the multivalent α2,3-linked Neu5Gc-ligands (3a–c and 7) selectively inhibit hemagglutination mediated by both influenza viruses and display a strong inhibitory activity. Our results indicate that the multivalent Neu5Gc-ligands can be used as novel probes to elucidate the mechanism of infection/adhesion of Neu5Gc-binding influenza viruses. Chemoenzymatic synthesis of novel sialoglycopolypeptides carryingN-glycolylneuraminic acid-containing trisaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ABSTRACT Functional cationic polymers carrying mannose moieties were synthesized in a facile manner by employing RAFT polymerization. Initially, a protected carbohydrate based monomer, [2-(2,3,4,6-tetra- O-acetyl-α- d-mannopyranosyloxy)ethyl methacrylate (AcManEMA)], was prepared by the O-glycosylation of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Subsequently, a macroRAFT agent of poly[2-(dimethyl)amino ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) was generated, and a further chain extension polymerization with AcManEMA was carried out in dioxane to form a acetylated mannose cationic diblock copolymer, PDMAEMA- b-PAcManEMA. It was attained in high yields and displayed low dispersity ( Ð). Acetylated mannose moieties on the polymer were deprotected with sodium methoxide and the amines from the DMAEMA block were protonated to yield a cationic diblock glycopolymer, PDMAEMA- b-PManEMA. The cationic property of polymers were characterized by mixing with a negatively charged siRNA duplex and a pDNA, and aggregates of 102 and 233 nm were obtained, respectively. Agarose gel shift assay revealed that the polymers were able to retain the nucleic acids as large polymer complexes. Lectin binding assay proved that the mannose residue on the polymers were only able to bind specifically with ConA. PNA lectin was employed as a control and did not show specific binding. The cationic glycopolymer could be advantageous in targeted nucleic acids delivery in specific cells. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44947. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aminophenylboronic acid (ABA) modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) was prepared as neolectin and its interactions with oligosaccharides and glycopolymer were studied by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The conjugation between the primary amine group of the ABA molecule and lysine residues on BSA was performed with an adipate-based strategy to afford the synthetic neoprotein. The number of ABA molecules loaded to BSA surface was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization - time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. In the BSA-ABA and sugar interaction study, no signal was observed for both the SPR and ITC sensor platform using monosaccharides as the analyte, indicating a weak binding affnity, while the galactose modified polymer showed an enhanced response. The binding affinities of the galactosyl- polymer to BSA-ABA from SPR and ITC data were in the micromolar range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we demonstrate the concerted inhibition of different influenza A virus (IAV) strains using a low-molecular-weight dual-action linear polymer. The 6'-sialyllactose and zanamivir conjugates of linear polyglycerol are optimized for simultaneous targeting of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase on the IAV surface. Independent of IAV subtypes, hemagglutination inhibition data suggest better adsorption of the heteromultivalent polymer than homomultivalent analogs onto the virus surface. Cryo-TEM images imply heteromultivalent compound-mediated virus aggregation. The optimized polymeric nanomaterial inhibits >99.9% propagation of various IAV strains 24 h postinfection in vitro at low nM concentrations and is up to 10000× more effective than the commercial zanamivir drug. In a human lung ex vivo multicyclic infection setup, the heteromultivalent polymer outperforms the commercial drug zanamivir and homomultivalent analogs or their physical mixtures. This study authenticates the translational potential of the dual-action targeting approach using small polymers for broad and high antiviral efficacy.

Currently, conjugated polymer nanoparticles are widely used with many biological applications, especially bio-imaging and labeling. Thus their modification with different biomacromolecules becomes a crucial step before various applications. In literature, this modification was normally performed via covalent bonds. To our best knowledge, modification based on inclusion complexation has not been reported. Herein, via host-guest interaction between cyclodextrin and adamantane, supramolecular modification to conjugated polyfluorene nanoparticles has been successfully achieved. The glycopolymer-modified conjugated polymer nanoparticles showed excellent binding ability to lectins, such as Galectin-3 and selective imaging behavior to Hep G2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphiphilic poly(ε-caprolactone)-block-poly[2-(α-D-mannopyranosyloxy) ethyl acrylamide] (PCL-b-PManEA) block copolymers were synthesized via a combination of ring-opening polymerization (ROP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and reactive ester-amine reaction. The PCL-b-PManEA block copolymers can self-assemble into micelles and encapsulate anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). To enhance mucoadhesive property of the resulting DOX-loaded PCL-b-PManEA micelles, Concanavalin A (ConA) lectin was further conjugated with the micelles. Turbidimetric assay using mucin shows that the DOX-loaded PCL-b-PManEA@ConA micelles are mucoadhesive. DOX release from the DOX-loaded PCL-b-PManEA@ConA micelles in artificial urine at 37 °C exhibits an initial burst release, followed by a sustained and slow release over three days. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) images indicate that the DOX-loaded PCL-b-PManEA@ConA micelles can be effectively internalized by UMUC3 human urothelial carcinoma cells. The DOX-loaded PCL-b-PManEA@ConA micelles exhibit significant cytotoxicity to these cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbohydrate receptors on alveolar macrophages are attractive targets for receptor-mediated delivery of nanostructured therapeutics. In this study, we employed reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization to synthesize neoglycopolymers, consisting of mannose- and galactose methacrylate-based monomers copolymerized with cholesterol methacrylate for use in functional liposome studies. Glycopolymer-functional liposomes were employed to elucidate macrophage mannose receptor (CD206) and macrophage galactose-type lectin (CD301) targeting in both primary macrophage and immortal macrophage cell lines. Expression of CD206 and CD301 was observed to vary significantly between cell lines (murine alveolar macrophage, murine bone marrow-derived macrophage, RAW264.7, and MH-S), which has significant implications in in vitro targeting and uptake studies. Synthetic glycopolymers and glycopolymer augmented liposomes demonstrated specific receptor-mediated uptake in a manner dependent on carbohydrate receptor expression. These results establish a platform capable of probing endogenous carbohydrate receptor-mediated targeting via glycofunctional nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous membranes with glycopolymer brushes were prepared as biomaterials for affinity separation. Glycopolymer brushes contained acrylic acid and D-mannose or N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and were formed on substrates by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The presence of glycopolymer brush was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle, and ellipsometry measurements. The interaction between lectin and the glycopolymer immobilized on glass slides was confirmed using fluorescent-labeled proteins. Glycopolymer-immobilized surfaces exhibited specific adsorption of the corresponding lectin, compared with bovine serum albumin. Lectins were continuously rejected by the glycopolymer-immobilized membranes. When the protein solution was permeated through the glycopolymer-immobilized membrane, bovine serum albumin was not adsorbed on the membrane surface. In contrast, concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin were rejected by membranes incorporating D-mannose or N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, respectively. The amounts of adsorbed concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin was increased five- and two-fold that of adsorbed bovine serum albumin, respectively.

This review summarizes the state of the art in the synthesis of well-defined glycopolymers by Reversible-Deactivation Radical Polymerization (RDRP) from its inception in 1998 until August 2012. Glycopolymers architectures have been successfully synthesized with four major RDRP techniques: Nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMP), cyanoxyl-mediated radical polymerization (CMRP), atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Over 140 publications were analyzed and their results summarized according to the technique used and the type of monomer(s) and carbohydrates involved. Particular emphasis was placed on the experimental conditions used, the structure obtained (comonomer distribution, topology), the degree of control achieved and the (potential) applications sought. A list of representative examples for each polymerization process can be found in tables placed at the beginning of each section covering a particular RDRP technique.

A series of novel glycol-clusters containing sulfonated N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) have been synthesized using click chemistry. Three dendrimers with aromatic dendrons were synthesized using chlorination, azidation and click chemistries. The resulting dendrimers were modified with azide-terminated sulfonated GlcNAc using click chemistry. The sulfonated dendrimers showed affinity for proteins, including the lectin wheat germ agglutinin and amyloid beta peptide (1-42). The dendrimers of G1 and G2 in particular showed the largest affinity for the proteins. The addition of the sulfonated GlcNAc dendrimers of G1 and G2 exhibited an inhibition effect on the aggregation of the amyloid beta peptide, reduced the b-sheet conformation, and led to a reduction in the level of nanofiber formation.

[Display omitted] Mucin glycoproteins are the major component of mucus and coat epithelial cell surfaces forming the glycocalyx. The glycocalyx and mucus are involved in the transport of nutrients, drugs, gases, and pathogens toward the cell surface. Mucins are also involved in diverse diseases such as cystic fibrosis and cancer. Due to inherent heterogeneity in native mucin structure, many synthetic materials have been designed to probe mucin chemistry, biology, and physics. Such materials include various glycopolymers, low molecular weight glycopeptides, glycopolypeptides, polysaccharides, and polysaccharide-protein conjugates. This review highlights advances in the area of design and synthesis of mucin mimic materials, and their biomedical applications in glycan binding, epithelial models of infection, therapeutic delivery, vaccine formulation, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mucins are the major component of mucus, which hydrates and protects tissues. • Mucins are involved in lubrication, cancer, infection, and reproduction. • Artificial mucins have application in vaccines, lubricants, and anti-infectives. • This review summarizes design, preparation and application of artificial mucins. Mucus is an essential barrier material that separates organisms from the outside world. This slippery material regulates the transport of nutrients, drugs, gases, and pathogens toward the cell surface. The surface of the cell itself is coated in a mucus-like barrier of glycoproteins and glycolipids. Mucin glycoproteins are the primary component of mucus and the epithelial glycocalyx. Aberrant mucin production is implicated in diverse disease states from cancer and inflammation to pre-term birth and infection. Biological mucins are inherently heterogenous in structure, which has challenged understanding their molecular functions as a barrier and as biochemically active proteins. Therefore, many synthetic materials have been developed as artificial mucins with precisely tunable structures. This review highlights advances in design and synthesis of artificial mucins and their application in biomedical studies of mucin chemistry, biology, and physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Saccharide-based methacrylate glycopolymers and copolymers with 9-vinylcarbazole segments were synthesized and characterized. • Hierarchical porous TiO 2 (HPT) photocatalyst was prepared and characterized. • Saccharide-based polymers were used as SEDs along with HPT in photoreforming hydrogen evolution. • PNVK- b -PMDG/HPT/Pt under visible light exhibited an H 2 evolution rate of ∼881 μmol g−1 h−1 with AQY of ∼2.15 %. Saccharide-based homopolymers (PMDG and PMDM) and diblock copolymers with 9-vinylcarbazole (PNVK- b -PMDG and PNVK- b -PMDM) were synthesized by deacetylation of RAFT-generated corresponding acetyl-glucopyranoside and acetyl-maltose polymer segments. Synthesized polymers chemical structures were authenticated by spectroscopic methods. SEC investigational values of the polymers' weight average molecular weights (M w) were obtained in the orbit of 1849–11166 g/mol with 1.14–1.57 range polydispersity (Ð). The acetylated di-block copolymers exhibited higher thermal stability (T d5% : 265–274 °C) than the corresponding homopolymers (T d5% : 259–261 °C). The acetylated di-block copolymers showed higher T g values (54–67 °C) than the corresponding deacetylated polymers (52 °C). The glycopolymers with hierarchical porous TiO 2 (HPT) semiconductor photocatalyst exhibited relatively long lived charge carriers for efficient photon harvesting and enabling them to efficiently drive sacrificial H 2 generation in aqueous NaOH under visible light. The hydrogen production rate gradually increased from 109 μmol g−1 h−1 to 881 μmol g−1 h−1 when the NaOH concentration was boosted from 1 M to 10 M using PNVK- b -PMDG as a sacrificial electron donor with HPT and platinum. The glucose-based PNVK- b -PMDG diblock copolymer exhibited higher hydrogen production of 881 μmol g−1 h−1 with an apparent quantum efficiency (AQY) of ∼ 2.15 % than the di-block from maltose (PNVK- b -PMDM) [730 μmol g−1 h−1, AQY: ∼1.78 %] in the presence of alkaline condition (aqueous NaOH, pH = 10). The pendant carbazole moieties of the diblock copolymers improved the efficiency of photocatalytic H 2 production by facilitating interaction of free –OH groups of the glycopolymer segment with the HPT which provide significant increase in the reduction potential and decrease of the charge recombination. This work could lead to a more efficient photoreforming path of novel glycopolymer to harvest renewable H 2 energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For successful carbohydrate based anti-cancer vaccines, it is critical that B cells are activated to secret antibodies targeting the tumor associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs). Despite the availability of many TACA based constructs, systematic understanding of the effects of structural features on anti-glycan antibody responses is lacking. In this study, a series of defined synthetic glyco-polymers bearing a representative TACA, i.e., the Thomsen-nouveau (Tn) antigen, have been prepared to probe the induction of early B cell activation and antibody production via a T cell independent mechanism. Valency and density of the antigen in the polymers turned out to be critical. An average of greater than 6 Tn per chain was needed to induce antibody production. Glycopolymers with 40 antigens per chain and backbone molecular weight of 450 kDa gave the strongest stimulation to B cells in vitro , which correlated well with its in vivo activity. Deviations from the desired valency and density led to decreased antibody production or even antigen specific B cell non-responsiveness. These findings provide important insights on how to modulate anti-TACA immune responses facilitating the development of TACA based anti-cancer vaccines using glycopolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin is a potential natural anticancer drug with low oral bioavailability because of poor water solubility. The aqueous solubility of curcumin is enhanced by means of modification with the carbohydrate units. Polymerization of the curcumin-containing monomer with carbohydrate-containing monomer gives the water-soluble glycopolymer bearing curcumin pendant residues. The obtained copolymers (P1andP2) having desirable water solubility were well-characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The copolymerP2with a molar ratio of 1:6 (curcumin/carbohydrate) calculated from the proton NMR results exhibits a similar anticancer activity compared to original curcumin, which may serve as a potential chemotherapeutic agent in the field of anticancer medicine. The prepared glycopolymer (P2) bearing curcumin residues exhibit a similar anticancer activity to original curcumin. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Curcumin is the physiologically and pharmacologically active component of turmeric ( Curcuma longa L.) with attractive fluorescent property. However, the applications in live cell imaging field are restricted mainly due to the water-insolubility and cytotoxicity. To overcome this problem, curcumin-incorporated glycopolymers are synthesized by free radical copolymerization in this study. The glycopolymers are well-characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, obtained glycopolymers are assayed by MTT assay and cell imaging for supporting the potential bio application. The MTT result indicates that the introduction of carbohydrate units can reduce the cytotoxicity of curcumin unit. The live cell imaging investigations reveal that the curcuminincorporated glycopolymers are good candidates for cell imaging and may find broad applications in biological areas such as biological diagnosis, imaging, and detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report the synthesis and study of N -succinyl chitosan based hydrogel beads, stabilized with glycopolymeric network (NSC/Glc-gel) for application in anticancer drug delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). The bio-recognition of lectins by NSC/Glc-gel bead was also studied by UV–vis spectrophotometry. The beads were characterized using FT-IR, SEM and Thermogravimetric analysis. The extent of DOX loading was proportional to the degree of succinylation and the swelling kinetics of the beads showed pH dependency. The beads exhibited sustained release of DOX over a period of more than 15 days in an acidic pH, mimicking the microenvironment of tumor cells, and even lesser release at physiological pH. Release exponent ‘ n ’ derived from Korsmeyer–Peppas model implied that NSC88/Glc-gel (88% succinylation of chitosan) beads followed fickian diffusion controlled release mechanism whereas NSC75/Glc-gel (75% succinylation of chitosan) beads follow zero order release profile. The synthesized beads also displayed specificity to lectin Concanavalin A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycopolymers have been in the focus of intensive research due to their ability to mimic biological functions in recognition processes by interaction with carbohydrate binding proteins, so called lectins. For the same reason, the synthesis of glycosylated surfaces has evolved as a versatile route toward bioresponsive systems which can be used in protein chromatography. Also the detection of pathogens represents an application field of such glycosurfaces. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the different ways glycopolymers can be immobilized onto solid supports, thereby only covering the immobilization of synthetic glycopolymers. The emphasis was put on the chemical strategy for the immobilization step, although the synthesis of the glycopolymers is also explained, as well as selected analysis and application aspects of the resulting glycosylated surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An amphiphilic glycopolymer, poly(D-gluconamidoethyl methacrylate -r-3-methacrylamido phenylboronic acid), which could self-assemble to form nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution, was synthesized. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape with diameters of about 120 nm. The phenylboronic acid rendered the glycopolymer nanoparticles glucose sensitive, which was evident from swelling behavior of the nanoparticles at different glucose concentrations and was found to be dependent on the glucose level. Insulin was efficiently encapsulated within the nanoparticles (up to 15%), and the release of insulin increased with an increase in the level of glucose in the medium. Cell viability tests proved that the glycopolymer nanoparticles had good cytocompatibility, due to which the glycopolymers have the potential to be used in biomedical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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This research aims to synthesize a dopamine-functionalized macromolecular anchor to perform surface modification on the target nanostructures. A molecular anchor, 3,4-dichloro-1-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione, was successfully synthesized from dopamine and 2,3-dichloromaleic anhydride. The anchor acted as a linkage to couple the chains of poly(pentafluorostyrene) (PPFS) which were synthesized via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Modification was successfully performed to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by deposition of the dopamine-functionalized coupled PPFS onto the surface of the particles. The modified AgNPs had demonstrated improved dispersibility in organic solvent due to the hydrophobic nature of PPFS. To modify the surface chemistry of the nanoparticles further, thioglucose was grafted onto the structure of the coupled PPFS via thiol-fluoro nucleophilic substitution at the para-position of the pentafluorophenyl groups on the monomer units. The presence of sugar moieties on the coupled PPFS increased its hydrophilicity, which allowed the modified AgNPs to be readily dispersed in aqueous solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan-based glycopolymers having multiple β-lactosides exclusively at their C6-positions were successfully synthesized from partially deacetylated chitin through perfect N -deacetylation/phthaloylation and C6-selective bromination/azidation to afford 6-azide-6-deoxy- N -phthaloyl-chitosan and the subsequent Cu + -catalyzed Huisgen cycloadditions using alkyne-terminated β-lactoside and/or quaternary ammonium modules followed by dephthaloylations. Lectin-affinities of the resultant chitosan-based glycopolymers were assessed through fluorescence titration assays to show their unique sigmoidal binding profiles with amplified binding constants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Di-block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and glycopolymers at three different pendant spacer lengths of glucose moiety were synthesized by deacetylation of pendant moieties of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-d-glucopyranosides which were prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) process. The water soluble deacetylated copolymers, PEO-b-poly(acryl-d-glucopyranoside) (PEO-b-PAG,2a), PEO-b-poly[4′-(acryloxy)butyl-d-glucopyranoside] (PEO-b-PABG,2b), and PEO-b-poly[6′-(acryloxy)hexyl-d-glucopyranoside] (PEO-b-PAHG,2c) were characterized in comparison with acetylated copolymers by spectroscopic and gel permeation chromatography methods. In order to assess the biocompatibility of these three di-block copolymers, the adhesion (%), viability (%), and proliferation assays were carried out in MC3T3 cellsin-vitroat different concentrations from 10 nM to 1000 μM. Qualitative analysis of cell cytoskeletal organization was obtained by immunostaining with talin and integrinα5. It was clearly indicative of well spreading of cells in the presence of all glycopolymers at lower concentrations but with an increase in the concentration (10 and 100 μM) showed significant change in the cell surface morphologies, despite having good cell adhesion and viability as compared to the control conditions. The use of di-block glycolpolymers at ≤ 100 μM of the concentration showed very good osteoblast cells adhesion and viability response; however at higher concentrations (1000 μM) of glycopolymers > 80% of cells lost their viability. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The thermoresponsive double-hydrophilic glycopolymer (DHG), Poly (6- O -vinyl-nonanedioyl- d -galactose- co - N -vinylcaprolactam) (P(OVNG- co -NVCL)) was synthesized via a chemo-enzymatic process and a free radical copolymerization and the resulting nanofibers were fabricated using an electrospinning process. The desired lower critical solution temperature (LCST) between 32 and 40 °C of the DHG polymers was achieved by adjusting the molar fraction of galactose monomer in the copolymers during the synthesis. The thermoresponsive DHG polymers were found to have good cytocompatibility with Hela cells as determined by the MTT assay, and special recognition of the protein peanut agglutinin (PNA). The drug release properties of these newly designed thermoresponsive DHG P(OVNG- co -NVCL) nanofibers are temperature regulated, can target specific proteins and have the potential application in the field of sustained drug release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a challenge for cancer therapy to develop efficient and safe transport vehicles. In the current study, glycopolymer modified magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles were designed to improve drug bioavailability and anticancer efficacy. The nanoparticles enhanced intracellular uptake by virtue of multivalent binding to glycoprotein receptor over-expressed on the surface of liver cancer cells. Moreover, size of the nanoparticles was adjustable by changing the amount of TEOS and/or galactose monomer. The nanoparticles can be manipulated by an external magnetic field and used for T 2 -weighted contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging due to the high saturation magnetization (1.5 emu/g). Importantly, the novel nanoparticles had a high loading ability of drug (11.9%), and were taken up by HepG2 cells (10.5%), which was nearly three times more than NIH3T3 cells. Competition inhibition assay further confirmed that the glycopolymer conjugated nanoparticles could target cancer cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Hence, the well-defined nanoparticles exhibited great potential in MR imaging and targeted drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-reactive polysaccharide-based inisurf (acting both as initiator and stabilizer) has been designed for the first time from dextran with the aim of preparing dextran-covered nanoparticles with covalent linkage between core and coverage. This inisurf was used for polymerizing butyl acrylate in miniemulsion by AGET–ATRP. Both hydrophobic phenoxy groups and initiator groups (bromoisobutyryl ester) were introduced within hydrophilic dextran chain, conferring it amphiphilic and macroinitiator characters. Amphiphilic properties of dextran inisurfs have been evidenced as well as their ability to stabilize the direct miniemulsion of n -butyl acrylate. After optimization of polymerization conditions with model studies, assays were successfully realized with dextran-based inisurfs. Because of their amphiphilic character, inisurfs migrated at oil/water interface and initiated polymerization from bromoisobutyryl ester groups. Therefore graft copolymers were produced at oil/water interface, due to the multifunctional character of these inisurfs and constituted the particle inner core with covalent links to the dextran coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]