000160991 001__ 160991 000160991 005__ 20251017144618.0 000160991 0247_ $$2doi$$a10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c00477 000160991 0248_ $$2sideral$$a144179 000160991 037__ $$aART-2025-144179 000160991 041__ $$aeng 000160991 100__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-1791-0188$$aBonet-Aleta, Javier 000160991 245__ $$aMicrowave and Polymer-Assisted Synthesis of Ultrasmall Polydopamine Nanoparticles: Applications as Support for Peroxidase-like Activity and as Intracellular Iron Delivery Platform 000160991 260__ $$c2025 000160991 5060_ $$aAccess copy available to the general public$$fUnrestricted 000160991 5203_ $$aTuning the size of nanomaterials is a critical factor to consider when designing and optimizing their applications. In this context, polydopamine nanoparticles have demonstrated potential across a wide range of biomedical applications (Battaglini, M.; Emanet, M.; Carmignani, A.; Ciofani, G. Nano Today 2024, 55, 102151). However, achieving ultrasmall sizes remains a significant challenge, as most reported diameters in the literature exceed 50 nm. In this study, we present a method for synthesizing ultrasmall polydopamine nanoparticles (sPDA) with diameters below 5 nm. This is accomplished by employing a capping agent, polyvinylpyrrolidone, in combination with ultrafast microwave-assisted heating under basic pH conditions. Furthermore, we investigate the affinity of the synthesized sPDA nanostructures for various metal ions and observe excellent binding to iron ions. This property opens new avenues for catalytic applications and intracellular iron delivery, surpassing the performance of conventional polydopamine nanoparticles. 000160991 536__ $$9info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PDC2022-133866-I00 000160991 540__ $$9info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess$$aAll rights reserved$$uhttp://www.europeana.eu/rights/rr-f/ 000160991 655_4 $$ainfo:eu-repo/semantics/article$$vinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion 000160991 700__ $$aMolina-Martínez, Ana P. 000160991 700__ $$aChico-Carrasco, Estefania$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza 000160991 700__ $$aIrusta, Lourdes 000160991 700__ $$aGonzález, Alba 000160991 700__ $$aEncinas-Giménez, Miguel 000160991 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0003-0602-492X$$aMarquina, Clara 000160991 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-4546-4111$$aHueso, José L.$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza 000160991 700__ $$aSantamaría, Jesús 000160991 700__ $$0(orcid)0000-0002-6873-5244$$aSebastián, Víctor$$uUniversidad de Zaragoza 000160991 7102_ $$15005$$2555$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Ing.Quím.Tecnol.Med.Amb.$$cÁrea Ingeniería Química 000160991 7102_ $$15005$$2790$$aUniversidad de Zaragoza$$bDpto. Ing.Quím.Tecnol.Med.Amb.$$cÁrea Tecnologi. Medio Ambiente 000160991 773__ $$g41, 20 (2025), 12546-12555$$pLangmuir$$tLangmuir$$x0743-7463 000160991 8564_ $$s3532400$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/160991/files/texto_completo.pdf$$yPostprint$$zinfo:eu-repo/date/embargoEnd/2026-05-13 000160991 8564_ $$s1045394$$uhttps://zaguan.unizar.es/record/160991/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon$$xicon$$yPostprint$$zinfo:eu-repo/date/embargoEnd/2026-05-13 000160991 909CO $$ooai:zaguan.unizar.es:160991$$particulos$$pdriver 000160991 951__ $$a2025-10-17-14:20:31 000160991 980__ $$aARTICLE