Design of new (multi)-dedicated silica nanoparticles based on ionic liquids for biomedical applications

Abstract

The objective of this project is to design new functionalized silica nanoparticles (NPs) by using ionic liquids (ILs) based on imidazolium salts to avoid unspecific protein adsorption (protein corona). To overcome this challenge, various silylated ILs combined with different reactive functions (amine, acid) and counter anions will be synthetized, characterized and, then, grafted on silica NPs. Thus, the influence of the surface treatments as well as the diameter of the silica NPs will be investigated by TEM and SAXS, the thermal stability by TGA, the stability/aggregation by DLS-Zeta potential and the NIMs rheological properties by standard rheology measurements. In addition, their behavior in biological fluids will be also studied "in situ" by infrared synchrotron-based techniques and small angle X-ray scattering which will allow drawing a better understanding on the protein corona formation. Finally, the biological activities of these new silica NPs and the ultimate biological effect of protein corona will be deeply studied. (AU)