Dendritic multi-walled carbon nanotube with thermoresponsive shells: A good carrier for anticancer drugs

In this research, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were modified by dendritic macromonomer. Herein, polyamidoamine with acrylamide end groups was incorporated on MWCNTs. Afterwards, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), (PNIPAM), was grafted on polyamidoamine in a facile synthesis. Then, doxorubicin as anticancer drug was loaded on this nanocarrier. The drug release was studied at below and above the lower critical solution temperature of PNIPAM, (LCST 32 °C), 27 °C and 37 °C, respectively. At 37 °C (body temperature) the polymer shell dehydrated and the drug release increased. The profile of drug release was expressed by Higuchi's equation which indicated that the drug release mechanism was diffusion controlled.

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