Thermoswitchable Nanoparticles Based on Elastin-like
Polypeptides
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Abstract
The design of biocompatible particles
with defined size on the nanometer scale has proven to be a challenging
task in current biomedical research. Here we present an approach toward
temperature-responsive nanoparticles by covalently cross-linking micelles
based on trimeric constructs of elastin-like polypeptides. These trimers
can be triggered to assemble into micelles by heating the solution
above a specific transition temperature (<i>T</i><sub>t</sub>) which was shown in previous studies. Here we show that the disassembly
of the micelles below the <i>T</i><sub>t</sub> can be prevented
by the incorporation of covalent cross-links in the core of the micelles.
This facilitates a temperature-triggered swelling and collapsing by
around 35% in diameter, as determined by dynamic light scattering.
Size distribution was confirmed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy,
atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. We
show switchable nanoparticles with reversible volume changes in the
temperature region between 30 and 40 °C, making these particles
promising candidates for switchable drug delivery carriers