Synthesis of an Amphiphilic Polymer With Adjustable Surface Charge and Polarity and its Use for Obtaining Water‐Soluble Nanoparticles

Amphiphilic copolymers can be effectively used to encapsulate a broad range of nanomaterials. Since the surface charge and charge distribution can strongly affect relevant effects like protein adsorption, effective routes are required to tune it. Herein, a straightforward strategy is presented to tune the formal charge of poly (isobutylene‐ alt ‐maleic anhydride), converting it into an amphiphilic polymer with negative charge, zwitterionic character, or positive charge. This is a route of surface modification in which impact on other colloidal parameters apart for surface charge is minimized. The encapsulation of quantum dots are tested with the resulting polymers and confirm their robust stabilization over a range of pH values and ionic strengths.