Preparation of fluoroalkyl end-capped cooligomers/silica nanoparticles: A new approach to fluorinated nanoparticle inhibitors of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIVmac)

Fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid and sulfonic acid cooligomers reacted with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and silica/nanoparticles under alkaline conditions to afford the corresponding cooligomers/silica nanoparticles (mean diameters: 32–173 nm) with a good dispersibility and stability in aqueous and organic media. Interestingly, fluorinated nanoparticles containing carboxy groups were found to exhibit a potent and selective anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro. In contrast, fluorinated cooligomers containing sulfo groups were shown to have a potent and selective anti-SIVmac activity in vitro.