FUNCTIONALIZED SOLID POLYMER NANOPARTICLES FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

摘要

The present invention describes polymer nanoparticles having a cationic surface potential, into which both hydrophobic and hydrophilic pharmaceutically active substances can be enclosed. The hydrophilic and thus water-soluble substances are enclosed through ionic complexation with a charged polymer in the core of the particle by means of coprecipitation. It is possible to use as pharmaceutically active substances for encapsulation both therapeutic and diagnostic agents. The cationic particle surface makes stable electrostatic surface modification possible with partially oppositely charged compounds which may, to improve the passive and active targeting, comprise target-specific ligands.