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Published on: July 21, 2017
Light-Responsive Serinol-Based Polyurethane Nanocarrier for Controlled Drug Release
Jingjiang Sun1,2, Tarik Rust2, Dirk Kuckling2
1Key Laboratory of Rubber-plastics, Ministry of Education/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Zhengzhou Rd. 53, Qingdao, CN-266042, China.
Researchers developed light-responsive polyurethanes (LrPUs) that degrade under UV light. These LrPUs form stable nanoparticles capable of controlled drug release, offering a new platform for biodegradable polymers.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing stimuli-responsive polymers is crucial for advanced drug delivery and degradable materials.
- Polyurethanes offer versatile properties but often lack controlled degradation mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize novel light-responsive polyurethanes (LrPUs) using a facile strategy.
- To formulate stable, monodisperse nanoparticles from these LrPUs.
- To investigate the UV-triggered degradation and drug release capabilities of these LrPU nanoparticles.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of serinol-based polyurethanes with o-nitrobenzyl pendent groups.
- Nanoparticle formulation and characterization using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS).
- Degradation studies employing DLS, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), and UV-Vis spectroscopy.
- Drug encapsulation (Nile Red) and release studies using fluorescence spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized novel light-responsive polyurethanes (LrPUs).
- Demonstrated reproducible formation of stable, monodisperse LrPU nanoparticles.
- Observed rapid degradation of both LrPUs and their nanoparticles upon UV irradiation.
- Confirmed burst release of encapsulated Nile Red from nanoparticles upon UV exposure.
Conclusions:
- The developed strategy provides a facile route to light-responsive, biodegradable polymers.
- LrPU nanoparticles show promise for controlled drug delivery applications via UV-triggered release.
- This approach can be extended to create a wider range of serinol-based, stimuli-responsive monomers and polymers.
