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RNA‐based therapies offer a wide range of therapeutic interventions including the treatment of skin diseases; however, the strategies to efficiently deliver these biomolecules are still limited due to obstacles related to the cellular uptake and cytoplasmic delivery. Herein, we report the synthesis of a triggerable polymeric nanoparticle (NP) library composed of 160 formulations, presenting physico‐chemical diversity and differential responsiveness to light. Six formulations were more efficient (up to 500 %) than commercially available lipofectamine in gene‐knockdown activity. These formulations showed differential internalization by skin cells and the endosomal escape was rapid (minutes range). The NPs were effective in the release of siRNA and miRNA. Acute skin wounds treated with the top hit NP complexed with miRNA‐150‐5p healed faster than wounds treated with scrambled miRNA. Light‐activatable NPs offer a new strategy to topically deliver non‐coding RNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-step synthesis of a new water-soluble dithiocarbamate iniferter platform for the preparation of nanoparticles and -gels in aqueous solvents by photoinduced living-radical polymerisation is described herein. The water solubility of the dithiocarbamate iniferter was achieved by incorporating two unprotected glucose units into the iniferter structure by copper(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition ("click chemistry"). Molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (MIPs) specific for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and the corresponding non-imprinted particles (NIPs) were prepared in pure water by using the prepared iniferter as photoinitiator. Radioligand binding tests confirmed a high imprinting factor, and the living character of the iniferter was demonstrated by re-initiating a second photochemical polymerisation on the NIP nanoparticles in water by using ethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate. Our newly synthesised structure is a promising tool for iniferter-mediated photopolymerisations in aqueous media for the preparation of biocompatible nanomaterials with high potential for biomedical applications in a bottom-up fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a photoinduced method is introduced for the synthesis of highly cross‐linked and uniform polymer microspheres by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) at room temperature and in the absence of stabilizers or surfactants. Uniform particles are obtained at monomer concentrations as high as 10% (by volume), with polymers being exempt from contamination by residual transition metal catalysts, thereby overcoming the two major longstanding problems associated with thermally initiated ATRP‐mediated precipitation polymerization. Moreover, the obtained particles have also immobilized ATRP initiators on their surface, which directly enables the controlled growth of densely grafted polymer layers with adjustable thickness and a well‐defined chemical composition. The method is then employed successfully for the synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) have gained prominence as synthetic receptors, combining simplicity of synthesis with robust molecular recognition akin to antibodies and enzymes. One of their main application areas is chemical sensing. However, direct integration of MIPs with nanostructured transducers, crucial for enhancing sensing capabilities and broadening MIPs sensing applications, remains limited. This limitation mainly arises from the need for precise control over the MIP features (such as thickness) during deposition on nanostructured transducers. This work explores the potential of depositing MIPs directly onto nanostructured transducers via controlled radical photopolymerization, focusing on nanoporous silica (PSiO 2 ) with pore sizes of 40 nm and aspect ratio exceeding 100 as an interferometric optical nanotransducer. Leveraging the covalent attachment of a photo-iniferter agent onto the PSiO 2 surface, we achieved effective control over the polymerization process, resulting in the deposition of thin and uniform MIP layers on PSiO 2 . As a case study, we developed an MIP-based PSiO 2 optical sensor for propranolol, used as the template molecule, showcasing excellent linearity, a low detection limit, and efficacy in real matrices such as tap water. The results further demonstrate the sensor selectivity for the target molecule, along with its reusability and stability for at least 60 days., (© 2025 The Author(s). Small Methods published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)