Cytocompatible and multifunctional polymeric nanoparticles for transportation of bioactive molecules into and within cells

Multifunctional polymeric nanoparticles are materials with great potential for a wide range of biomedical applications. For progression in this area of research, unfavorable interactions of these nanoparticles with proteins and cells must be avoided in biological environments, for example, through treatment of the nanoparticle surfaces. Construction of an artificial cell membrane structure based on polymers bearing the zwitterionic phosphorylcholine group can prevent biological reactions at the surface effectively. In addition, certain bioactive molecules can be immobilized on the surface of the polymer to generate enough affinity to capture target biomolecules. Furthermore, entrapment of inorganic nanoparticles inside polymeric matrices enhances the nanoparticle functionality significantly. This review summarizes the preparation and characterization of cytocompatible and multifunctional polymeric nanoparticles; it analyzes the efficiency of their fluorescence function, the nature of the artificial cell membrane structure, and their performance as in-cell devices; and finally, it evaluates both their chemical reactivity and effects in cells.