Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Synthesis of Stimuli-responsive Nanogels using Aqueous One-step Crosslinking and Co-nanopolymerization
Published on: January 24, 2025
Synthesized of glucose-responsive nanogels labeled with fluorescence molecule based on phenylboronic acid by RAFT
1a Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials of Ministry of Education, Institute of Polymer Chemistry , Nankai University , Tianjin , China.
Abstract:
We reported on the fabrication of sugar-responsive nanogels covalently incorporated with 3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid (AAPBA) as glucose-recognizing moiety, 2-(acrylamido)glucopyranose (AGA) as biocompatible moiety, and boron dipyrromethene (BODIPYMA) as fluorescence donor molecule. The p(AAPBA-AGA-BODIPYMA) nanogels were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in the mixture solvents of H2O/ethanol. Nanogels could respond to glucose and size of nanogels increased after treating with 3 mg/mL glucose medium. The fluorescent intensity of nanogels varied dependent on different glucose concentrations. Besides, insulin, a model drug, can be encapsulated into nanogels with the loading amount up to 8.2%. The drug release was dependent on the content of AAPBA moieties in nanogels and glucose concentrations in release medium. The investigation on the cytotoxicity of nanogels revealed that nanogels had good compatibility. Such glucose-responsive nanogels have potential in detection and treatment of diabetes.
Related Concept Videos
Lewis Acids and Bases
A coordinate covalent bond (or dative bond) occurs when one of the atoms in the bond provides both bonding electrons. For example, a coordinate covalent bond occurs when a water molecule combines with a hydrogen ion to form a hydronium ion. A coordinate covalent bond also results when...
Ions as Acids and Bases
Salts are ionic compounds composed of cations and anions, either of which may be capable of undergoing an acid or base ionization reaction with water. Aqueous salt solutions, therefore, may be acidic, basic, or neutral, depending on the relative acid-base strengths of the salt’s constituent ions. For example, dissolving the ammonium chloride in water results in its dissociation, as described by the equation:
Acids, Bases and Neutralization Reactions
Water: A Bronsted-Lowry Acid and Base
Bronsted-Lowry Acids and Bases
Amino acids

