Multiple Sensitivity Study of Boronic Acid-Functionalized Nanoparticles Based on the Complexation of Poly (3-methacrylamido phenylboronic acid) and Dextran

The pH/glucose/salt-sensitivity of boronic acid-functionalized nanoparticles based on the complexation of poly(3-methacrylamido phenylboronic acid) (PMAPBA) and dextran were studied. The size and light scattering intensity ratio (I/I0) kept constant at pH 7.0 and 8.0. When the pH value was further increased in the range of 8.0-10, the size of the nanoparticles increased, and I/I0 reduced. As the pH value increased above 10, the size and I/I0 of the nanoparticles remained constant. The nanoparticles were sensitive to glucose, galactose, mannose, sucrose and lactose, and the sugar-responsive behavior was dependent on the pH values, nanoparticle concentrations and sugar configurations. Due to the charge screening effect of salt, the size increased as salt concentration increased from 0 to 15 mg/mL at pH 9.0, and the aggregation of the nanoparticles was found when salt concentration above 9.0 mg/mL at pH 7.0.