Scheme 1.

Synthesis route used to prepare the PGEO5MA₄₆‐PIPGMA_y spherical nanoparticles employed in this study. The first step involves the RAFT aqueous emulsion polymerization of IPGMA using a water‐soluble PGEO5MA₄₆ precursor to form a series of sterically‐stabilized PGEO5MA₄₆‐PIPGMA_y spherical nanoparticles (where y = 500 to 2000). The second step involves the selective periodate oxidation of the pendent cis‐diol groups on the PGEO5MA₄₆ chains to form the corresponding aldehyde‐functional spherical nanoparticles, followed by reductive amination to produce histidine‐functionalized nanoparticles.