Fluorescent labelling and biodistribution of latex nanoparticles formed by surfactant-free RAFT emulsion polymerisation

We report the preparation of a novel range of functional polyacrylamide stabilised polystyrene nanoparticles, obtained by surfactant-free reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) emulsion polymerisation, their fluorescent tagging, cellular uptake and biodistribution. We show the versatility of the RAFT emulsion process for the design of functional nanoparticles of well-defined size that can be used as drug delivery vectors. Functionalisation with a fluorescent tag offers a useful visualisation tool for tracing, localisation and clearance studies of these carriers in biological models. The studies were carried out by labelling the sterically stabilised latex particles chemically with rhodamine B. The fluorescent particles were incubated in a healthy human renal proximal tubular cell line model, and intravenously injected into a mouse model. Cellular localisation and biodistribution of these particles on the biological models were explored