Multifunctional nanogels with dual temperature and pH responsiveness

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Intelligent biomaterials, particularly nanogels, are crucial for innovative drug delivery systems.
• Recent advances combine interdisciplinary efforts to develop advanced medical and pharmaceutical applications.
• Nanogels offer attractive carrier properties for novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel multi-responsive nanogels by crosslinking specific copolymers with 1,12-dodecanediol.
• To investigate the dual pH and temperature-sensitive characteristics of the synthesized nanogel structures.
• To evaluate the potential of these nanogels as drug delivery systems using diclofenac as a model drug.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of poly(itaconic anhydride-co-3,9-divinyl-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro [5.5] undecane) copolymer variants.
• Crosslinking of copolymers with 1,12-dodecanediol to form multi-responsive nanogels.
• Characterization using FTIR, 1H NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic light scattering (DLS).

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of novel nanogel structures with confirmed chemical integrity via FTIR and 1H NMR.
• Thermogravimetric analysis confirmed the thermal stability and covalent bonding within the nanogel network.
• Dynamic light scattering studies demonstrated the dual responsiveness of the nanogels to both temperature and pH variations.
• In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed the bioactivity and efficacy of the synthesized nanogels as drug delivery systems for diclofenac.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized nanogels exhibit dual pH and temperature sensitivity, making them suitable for controlled drug release.
• These intelligent biomaterials offer a promising platform for developing advanced drug delivery systems that mimic biological responses.
• The study confirms the bioactivity and potential of these novel nanogel networks in pharmaceutical applications.