Multiresponse strategies to modulate burst degradation and release from nanoparticles

Logic gate nanoparticles, where two chemical transformations take place one after the other, were successfully formulated from a newly synthesized random co-polymer. This polymer, poly([2,2'-(propane-2,2-diylbis(oxy))bis(ethane-2,1-diyl) diacrylate ]-co-[hexane-1,6-diyl diacrylate]-4,4' trimethylene dipiperidine), (poly-β-aminoester ketal-2) contains two pH responsive moieties within its backbone. As nanoparticles they function akin to an AND logic gate. The β-aminoester backbone moiety provides a pH triggered solubility switch, only when this switch is "ON" does the ketal moiety also turn "ON" to undergo rapid acid catalyzed hydrolysis. These AND logic gate polymeric nanoparticles were prepared using an oil in water emulsion method. Their degradation in the pH range of 7.4-5 was monitored by dynamic light scattering and showed excellent stability at pH 7.4 and rapid degradation at pH 5. Our results indicate that the prepared logic gate nanoparticles may prove valuable in delivering therapeutics and diagnostics to cells and diseased tissue.