The Effect of Poly (beta amino ester) and Dopamine Coatings on the Surface Activity of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

This study aimed to determine if poly (beta-amino ester) (PBAE) and dopamine (DA) coated iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) would impact the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of an alternating magnetic field (AMF). IONPs were synthesized by a co-precipitation method and were coated with PBAE polymers containing different amounts of dopamine and dopamine alone. The molar concentration of dopamine was altered in each PBAE polymer while the ratios of PEG400DA:DEGDA (2:1) and the diacrylate:amine (1.2:1) were held constant. PBAE 0.1% DA and PBAE No DA were successfully synthesized and compared to previously synthesized PBAEs with 1% and 10% Dopamine concentration. PBAE No DA and PBAE 0.1% DA were both successful in coating and degrading from the IONPs. The results of the methylene blue decolorization assay with AMF exposure demonstrate that coated IONPs show more evidence of ROS generation than uncoated or degraded IONPs, and Dopamine coated IONPs completely inhibited ROS generation. PBAE No DA coated IONPs generated ROS most effectively therefore suggests that dopamine causes too strong binding of PBAEs to IONPs and compounds with less reactive anchoring groups should be studied for alternative PBAE polymers.

Research Supported by the National Science Foundation REU Program #EED-1460486