The pH-induced thermosensitive poly (NIPAAm-co-AAc-co-HEMA)-g-PCL micelles used as a drug carrier
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
Magnetic and Thermal-sensitive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based Microgels for Magnetically Triggered Controlled Release
Published on: July 4, 2017
Weifeng Dai1, Yan Zhang, Zhengzhen Du
1Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 391, 130 Meilong Road, 200237 Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The macromonomer of 2-hydroxyethyl methyacrylate-caprolactone (HPCL) was synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of epsilon-caprolactone, which was initiated by 2-hydroxyethyl methyacrylate (HEMA). Then, the graft terpolymers of NIPAAm-co-AAc-co-HEMA-g-PCL (PHNA-CL) with varying mole ratios were subsequently synthesized by free radical polymerization of HEMA-PCL, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and acrylic acid (AAc). PHNA-CL was further self-assembled in different types of solvent. All the as-prepared copolymers were characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR and GPC. Micellization behaviors of micelles were studied by TEM and DLS. The micelles exhibited a phase transition temperature which can be readily adjusted by changing pH value of the micellization system. Micelle loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) was used to evaluate the drug release behavior. The release of DOX from micelles could be controlled by changing pH value and temperature in buffer solutions. The micelles are potentially to be used as a new anticancer drug carrier for intracellular delivery.
