# Arginine-Functional Methacrylic Block Copolymer Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Adsorption onto a Model Planar Substrate

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- Authors: Hubert Buksa, Edwin C Johnson, Derek HH Chan, Rory J McBride, George Sanderson, Rebecca M Corrigan, Steven P Armes
- Journal: Biomacromolecules
- Year: 2024
- DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00128?goto=supporting-info
- Instrument used: openQCM NEXT

## Abstract

Recently, we reported the synthesis of a hydrophilic aldehyde-functional methacrylic polymer (Angew. Chem., 2021, 60, 12032–12037). Herein we demonstrate that such polymers can be reacted with arginine in aqueous solution to produce arginine-functional methacrylic polymers without recourse to protecting group chemistry. Careful control of the solution pH is essential to ensure regioselective imine bond formation; subsequent reductive amination leads to a hydrolytically stable amide linkage. This new protocol was used to prepare a series of arginine-functionalized diblock copolymer nanoparticles of varying size via polymerization-induced self-assembly in aqueous media. Adsorption of these cationic nanoparticles onto silica was monitored using a quartz crystal microbalance. Strong electrostatic adsorption occurred at pH 7 (Γ = 14.7 mg m–2), whereas much weaker adsorption occurred at pH 3 (Γ = 1.9 mg m–2). These findings were corroborated by electron microscopy, which indicated a surface coverage of 42% at pH 7 but only 5% at pH 3

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