Selective Binding of Folic Acid and Derivatives by Imprinted Nanoparticle Receptors in Water.

ABSTRACT: Folate receptors are overexpressed on cancer cells and frequently used for targeted delivery. Creation of synthetic receptors to bind folic acid and its analogues in water, however, is challenging because of its complex hydrogen-bonding patterns and competition for hydrogen bonds from the solvent. Micellar imprinting within cross-linkable surfactants circumvented these problems because the nonpolar micellar environment strengthened the hydrogen bonds between the amide group in the surfactant and the template molecule. Incorporation of polymerizable thiouronium functional monomers further enhanced the binding through hydrogen-bond-reinforced ion pairs with the glutamate moiety of the template. The resulting imprinted micelles were able to bind folate and their analogues with submicromolar a

SUBMITTER: Duan L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5906172 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature