Surface functionalization of polystyrene nanoparticles with liposaccharidemonomers: Preparation, characterization and applications

Latex particles bearing carbohydrate species were prepared by emulsion copo lymerization of styrene or methyl methacrylate with polymerizable liposacch aride surfactants; 11-(N-p-vinylbenzyl) amido undecanoyl maltobionamide (LI MA), 6-(2-methylpropenoyloxy)hexyl beta-D-cellobioside (CHMA) and 10-(2-met hylpropenoyloxy)decyl beta-D-cellobiouronoside (CDMA). Due to their amphiph ilic structure, these three monomers exhibit surface active properties in d ilute solutions and mesomorphic properties in concentrated solutions. Their incorporation onto latex particles was performed according to a batch proc ess or a seed polymerization process. The presence of the carbohydrate resi dues at the particle surface was directly observed by NMR. The potential ap plication of these functionalized latexes in the biomedical diagnostic fiel d was evaluated by studying the adsorption of bovine serum albumin, and by performing covalent binding of antibodies and single-stranded DNA fragments on their surface.