Hydrophobic Modification of Copper Nanospheres for Incorporation into Poloxamer Micelles, Aggregated Micellar Nanocages and Supramolecular Assemblies

Background: Polymer nanogels are increasingly used for the encapsulation of nano-solids and quantum dots such as in advanced forms of drug and therapeutic isotope delivery. Objective: Unlike ex vivo application of systems in vivo application and internalization are likely to suffer from aspects of failure to ensure safety and biocompatibility. Biocompatible hydrophilic poloxamer (Pluronic F108 and F68) micelles were studied by light scattering and tensiometry. Methods: The micelles of nano-gels are synthetic heteropolymer aggregates, which are used to encapsulate drugs but in this study chemically-modified (hydrophobized) copper nano-spheres, for the purposes of demonstration for further application and medical use. Copper benzoate nano-particles (CuBzNPs) were produced by maceration and subsequently stabilized in Pluronic F108 solution was added at different concentrations. Results: The resulting particle size increase was studied by dynamic light scattering. Moderate size increase was observed at low Pluronic F108 concentrations, which indicated successful coating, but at higher F108 concentrations large size agglomerates formed. Coated copper benzoate nano-particles (CuBzNPs) were fabricated as a proof-of-principle and as a substitute for bare metal nano-particles (MNs), which were not successfully entrained in the poloxamer nano-gel. As part of the synthesis copper benzoate (CuBz) beads and their characterization through contact angle measurements were performed. Conclusion: Micelles sizes of 4 nm for F68 Pluronic at equilibrium surface tensions of 36 mNm-1 were captured in weak, 1.25 to 2.0 Pas pseudoplastic gels fabricated from hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC).