Synthesis and performance of pH-sensitive hydrogel microspheres and in vitro evaluation as potential drug carriers

• Published in: Microsystem technologies : sensors, actuators, systems integration actuators, systems integration, 2015-11, Vol.21 (11), p.2287-2296
• Main Authors: Tian, Ruiqiong, Liang, Yuanyuan, Zhang, Xiaoyun, Cui, Yuqin, Zhao, Yingge, Zhang, Jing, Liang, Xiaoyang, Chen, Tong, Shang, Qing, Lin, Xiaona
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electronics and Microelectronics; Engineering; Instrumentation; Mechanical Engineering; Nanotechnology; Technical Paper
• ISSN: 0946-7076; 1432-1858
• DOI: 10.1007/s00542-014-2355-9

To accelerate the response rate of smart hydrogels to the environmental conditions, a novel pH-sensitive p(PEGMA-g-MAA) hydrogel microsphere with the controlled shapes and sizes were developed. Such monodispersed microspheres were synthesized via free radical polymerization under the protection of a multilayer stability system. The pH-responsibility of hydrogel microspheres was tested with the hydrogel bulk as a control. In vitro release studies were conducted in the simulated gastric fluid and intestinal juice with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model drug. The large specific surface areas endowed hydrogel microspheres a faster pH-responsibility than that of hydrogel bulk. In vitro release profiles showed that over 90 % BSA were released from hydrogel microspheres under the alkaline conditions (pH 7.4), which was faster than those from hydrogel bulks. In sum, the rapid pH-responsibility and ideal drug release profile could shorten the lag time to steady plasma-drug concentration, which was beneficial to increasing the therapeutic effect of the drugs.