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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Alternating Magnetic Field-Responsive Hybrid Gelatin Microgels for Controlled Drug Release
Published on: February 13, 2016
Synthesis of temperature-responsive dextran-MA/PNIPAAm particles for controlled drug delivery using superhydrophobic
Ana Catarina Lima1, Wenlong Song, Barbara Blanco-Fernandez
13B's Research Group-Biomaterials Biodegradables and Biomimetics Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, AvePark, Zona Industrial da Gandra S. Cláudio do Barco, 4806-909 Caldas das Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal.
Purpose:
To implement a bioinspired methodology using superhydrophobic surfaces suitable for producing smart hydrogel beads in which the bioactive substance is introduced in the particles during their formation.
Methods:
Several superhydrophobic surfaces, including polystyrene, aluminum and copper, were prepared. Polymeric solutions composed by photo-crosslinked dextran-methacrylated and thermal responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) mixed with a protein (insulin or albumin) were dropped on the superhydrophobic surfaces, and the obtained millimetric spheres were hardened in a dry environment under UV light.
Results:
Spherical and non-sticky hydrogels particles were formed in few minutes on the superhydrophobic surfaces. The proteins included in the liquid formulation were homogeneously distributed in the particle network. The particles exhibited temperature-sensitive swelling, porosity and protein release rate, with the responsiveness tunable by the dextran-MA/PNIPAAm weight ratio.
Conclusions:
The proposed method permitted the preparation of smart hydrogel particles in one step with almost 100% encapsulation yield. The temperature-sensitive release profiles suggest that the obtained spherical-shaped biomaterials are suitable as protein carriers. These stimuli-responsive beads could have potential to be used in pharmaceutical or other biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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