TunableDegradation Behavior of PEGylated Polyester-BasedNanoparticles Obtained Through Emulsion Free Radical Polymerization.

In this work PEGylated polyester-basednanoparticles (NPs) fordrug delivery applications were synthetized through emulsion freeradical polymerization. These NPs are produced starting from functionalizedmacromonomers whose average chain length can be tuned in a controlledway. Since the degradation of these NPs occurs through the hydrolysisof side chains, by tuning their length it is possible to obtain NPswith a controllable degradation time, comparable to data obtainedwith NPs internalized into cells. The long-term colloidal stabilityof these NPs in isotonic environment has been assessed through dynamiclight scattering measurements and their degradation rate in cell mediumhas been proved to be fast and controllable. The NP behavior in gastricand intestinal solution was also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]