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Updated: Mar 11, 2026

Synthesis of Stimuli-responsive Nanogels using Aqueous One-step Crosslinking and Co-nanopolymerization
Published on: January 24, 2025
Overcoming drug resistance with on-demand charged thermoresponsive dendritic nanogels
Maria Molina1, Stefanie Wedepohl1, Enrico Miceli1,2
1Institute for Chemistry & Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
Aim:
To develop nanogels (NG) able to modulate the encapsulation and release of drugs, in order to circumvent drug resistance mechanisms in cancer cells.
Materials & Methods:
Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide-dendritic polyglycerol NG were semi-interpenetrated with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid or (2-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate. Physico-chemical properties of the NGs as well as doxorubicin (DOXO) loading and release were characterized. Drug delivery performance was investigated in vitro and in vivo in a multidrug-resistant tumor model.
Results:
Both the DOXO loaded semi-interpenetrating polymer network NGs were more efficient in multidrug resistant cancer cell proliferation inhibition studies. In vivo, the DOXO loaded NG semi-interpenetrated with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid was able to overcome drug resistance and reduce the tumor volume to about 25%.
Conclusion:
The innovative semi-interpenetrating polymer network NGs appear to be promising drug carriers for drug resistant cancer therapy.
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Site-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Polymeric Carriers
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated

