Smart Poly Microgels with Interpenetrating Polymer Network Structure

• Published in: Applied sciences 2024-12, Vol.14 (24)
• Main Authors: Simeonov, Marin, Shestakova, Pavletta, Boye, Susanne, Lederer, Albena, Vassileva, Elena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acrylic acid; Drug delivery systems; Drugs; Gastrointestinal system; Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Polyacrylamide; Polymer industry; Surface active agents; Vehicles
• ISSN: 2076-3417; 2076-3417
• DOI: 10.3390/app142411562

Poly(acrylic acid)/poly(acrylamide) microgels with an IPN structure demonstrate smart behavior with dual pH and temperature responsiveness. Both factors are determinative for human physiology. This, combined with the anionic nature of these microgels, determines their potential as a suitable carrier for the drug delivery of cationic drugs through the gastro-intestinal tract. Microgels with precisely tuned properties are of great importance as drug delivery systems. Here, we report the synthesis of microgel particles (MGs) with an interpenetrating polymer network structure composed of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and polyacrylamide (PAAM) for their potential application as cationic drug carriers. The MG properties were investigated via several analytical techniques, such as Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and zeta potential (ZP) measurements, Diffusion Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The MGs show pH-dependent swelling behavior with a radius of ~100 nm at collapsed state (pH < 4.5) and swell up to ~450 nm (pH~7), while their ZP decreases from −5 to −40 mV, depending on their composition. The results of the conducted studies demonstrate the potential of synthesized microgels for drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract.