Novel cationic pH-responsive poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) microcapsules prepared by a microfluidic...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing smart microcapsules for targeted drug delivery is crucial.
• pH-responsive materials offer controlled release capabilities.
• Microfluidic techniques enable precise fabrication of microstructures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel monodisperse cationic pH-responsive microcapsules.
• To investigate the pH-responsive swelling behavior of poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDM) microcapsules.
• To explore their potential as drug delivery carriers for tumor therapy.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of microcapsules using oil-in-water-in-oil double emulsions as templates via microfluidics.
• Utilizing a double photo-initiation system and controlling monomer solution pH.
• Systematic study of preparation parameters including pH, cross-linker concentration, monomer concentration, and copolymer addition.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated cross-linked PDM microcapsules with good sphericity and monodispersity.
• Microcapsule membranes swell at low pH due to protonation of amine groups.
• High pH-responsive swelling ratios observed with preparation at high pH, low cross-linking density, and low monomer concentration.
• Acrylamide addition decreased swelling ratios; temperature had minimal effect below pH 7.4.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully developed cationic pH-responsive microcapsules with tunable swelling properties.
• These PDM microcapsules demonstrate biocompatibility and significant pH-responsiveness.
• The fabrication method provides valuable insights for creating core-shell microcapsules for potential applications in tumor-targeted drug delivery.