(162) Branched Copolymer Nanogels Synthesized by RAFT Polymerization for Gene Delivery Vehicles

Introduction: Nanogels are hydrogels made of crosslinked polymer chains that form particles in the nanoscale range. They absorb water and unlike micelles, do not require a hydrophobic effect to drive their structure. Their water content imparts an elastic modulus allowing biodistribution through tight junctions that conventional nanoparticles cannot pass. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has been used to produce nanogels cores,(1) with customizable coronas, which can be used to tune the particle interaction with physiological systems.