Purpose. The aim of this work was to develop PEGylated poly(alkylcyano
acrylate) nanoparticles from a novel methoxypolyethyleneglycol cyanoac
rylate-co-hexadecyl cyanoacrylate copolymer. Methods. PEGylated and no
n-PEGylated nanoparticles were formed by nanoprecipitation or by emuls
ion/solvent evaporation. Nanoparticles size, zeta potential and surfac
e hydrophobicity were investigated. Surface chemical composition was d
etermined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Nanoparticle morphology
was investigated by transmission electron microscopy after freeze-fra
cture. Nanoparticles cytotoxicity was assayed in vitro, onto mouse per
itoneal macrophages. Cell viability was determined through cell mitoch
ondrial activity, by a tetrazolium-based colorimetric method (MTT test
). Finally, the degradation of PEGylated and non-PEGylated poly(hexade
cyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles was followed spectrophotometrically d
uring incubation of nanoparticles in fetal calf serum. Results. Monodi
sperse nanoparticles with a mean diameter ranging between 100 and 200
nm were obtained using nanoprecipitation or emulsion/solvent evaporati
on as preparation procedures. A complete physico-chemical characteriza
tion, including surface chemical analysis, allowed to confirm the form
ation of PEG-coated nanoparticles. The PEGylation of the cyanoacrylate
polymer showed reduced cytotoxicity towards mouse peritoneal macropha
ges. Furthermore, the presence of the PEG segment increased the degrad
ability of the poly(hexadecyl cyanoacrylate) polymer in presence of ca
lf serum. Conclusions. We succeeded to prepare PEGylated nanoparticles
from a novel poly(methoxypolyethyleneglycol cyanoacrylate-co-hexadecy
l cyanoacrylate) by two different techniques. Physico-chemical charact
erization showed the formation of a PEG coating layer. Low cytoxicity
and enhanced degradation were also shown.