Fluorinated-PLGA Nanoparticles for Enhanced Drug Encapsulation and 19F-NMR Detection

In the continuous search to develop multimodal systems with combined diagnostic and therapeutic functions, several efforts have been focused on the development of multifunctional drug delivery systems. Herein we designed, by a covalent approach, a novel class of fluorinated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) co-polymers (F-PLGA) containing an increasing number of magnetically equivalent fluorine atoms. In particular, two novel compounds, F 3 -PLGA and F 9 -PLGA, were synthesized and their chemical structure and thermal stability were analysed by solution NMR, DSC, and TGA. The obtained F-PLGA compounds were proved to form in aqueous solution colloidal stable nanoparticles (NPs) displaying a strong 19 F-NMR signal. The fluorinated NPs also showed an enhanced ability to load hydrophobic drugs containing fluorine atoms with respect to analogue pristine PLGA NPs. Preliminary in vitro studies showed their cellular availability and ability to intracellularly deliver and release a functioning drug.