Mesoporous Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/poly(2-carboxyethyl acrylate) composite polymer particles for pH-responsive loading and...

pH-responsive polymer microspheres undergoing reversible changes in their surface properties have been proved useful for drug delivery to targeted sites. This paper is aimed at preparing pH-responsive polymer-modified magnetic mesoporous SiO₂ particles. First, mesoporous magnetic (Fe₃O₄) core-particles are prepared using a one-pot solvothermal method. Then, magnetic Fe₃O₄ particles are covered with a C[double bond, length as m-dash]C functional mesoporous SiO₂ layer before seeded emulsion polymerization of 2-carboxyethyl acrylate (2-CEA). The composite polymer particles are named Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/P(2-CEA). The average diameters of the Fe₃O₄ core and Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/P(2-CEA) composite polymer particles are 414 and 595 nm, respectively. The mesoporous (pore diameter = 3.41 nm) structure of Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/P(2-CEA) composite polymer particles is confirmed from Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis. The synthesized Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/P(2-CEA) composite polymer exhibited pH-dependent changes in volume and surface charge density due to deprotonation of the carboxyl group under alkaline pH conditions. The change in the surface properties of Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/P(2-CEA) composite polymer particles following pH change is confirmed from the pH-dependent sorption of cationic methylene blue (MB) and anionic methyl orange (MO) dye molecules. The opening of the pH-responsive P(2-CEA) gate valve at pH 10.0 allowed the release of loaded vancomycin up to 99% after 165 min and p-acetamido phenol (p-AP) up to 46% after 225 min. Comparatively, the amount of release is lower at pH 8.0 but still suitable for drug delivery applications. These results suggested that the mesoporous Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ composite seed acted as a microcapsule, while P(2-CEA) functioned as a gate valve across the porous channel. The prepared composite polymer can therefore be useful for treating intestine/colon cancer, where the pH is comparatively alkaline.