POLYMERS FOR FUNCTIONAL PARTICLES

摘要

The present invention generally relates to polymers and macromolecules, i n particular, to block polymers useful in particles such as nanoparticles. O ne aspect of the invention is directed to a method of developing nanoparticl es with desired properties. In one set of embodiments, the method includes p roducing libraries of nanoparticles having highly controlled properties, whi ch can be formed by mixing together two or more macromolecules in different ratios. One or more of the macromolecules may be a polymeric conjugate of a moiety to a biocompatible polymer. In some cases, the nanoparticle may conta in a drug. The moiety, in some embodiments, may have a molecular weight grea ter than about 1000 Da; for example, the moiety may include a polypeptide or a polynucleotide, such as an aptamer. The moiety may also be a targeting mo iety, an imaging moiety, a chelating moiety, a charged moiety, or a therapeu tic moiety. Another aspect of the invention is directed to systems and metho ds of producing such polymeric conjugates. In some embodiments, a solution c ontaining a polymer is contacted with a liquid, such as an immiscible liquid , to form nanoparticles containing the polymeric conjugate. Other aspects of the invention are directed to methods using such libraries, methods of usin g or administering such polymeric conjugates, methods of promoting the use o f such polymeric conjugates, kits involving such polymeric conjugates, or th e like.