Glycosaminoglycan functionalized nanoparticles exploit glycosaminoglycan functions

Nanoparticles are being explored for a variety of applications including medical imaging, drug delivery, and biochemical detection. Surface functionalization of nanoparticles with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) is an attractive strategy that is only starting to be investigated to improve their properties for biological and therapeutic applications. Herein, we describe a method to functionalize the surface of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) with organosilane linkers, such as 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and 3-(mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS), and GAGs, such as unfractionated and low molecular weight heparin. Examples of how the activity of these heparin functionalized nanoparticles are governed by the pendant GAGs are detailed. The activity of heparin covalently attached to the nanoceria was found to be unchanged when compared to unfractionated heparin using the activated partial clotting time (APTT) assay.