Thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-glycidyl methacrylate) microgels for controlled drug release

A new type of thermosensitive microgels with epoxy functional groups is designed and synthesized for drug delivery. The thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (designated as P(NIPAM-co-GMA)) microgels are prepared by an emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization method and the chemical composition of the copolymer is determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the microgels is 32 °C based on the transmittance changes at 500 nm monitored by UV/visible spectrophotometry. The hydrodynamic diameter and morphology of the microgel particles are examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The drug release properties determined using 5-FU as the drug model in vitro reveal temperature dependence and low cytotoxicity. The thermosensitive microgels have large potential as targeted anti-cancer drug carriers.

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► Monodisperse and spherical thermosensitive microgels were prepared.
► Epoxy functional groups were incorporated into the microgels.
► The obtained microgels show good biocompatibility.
► Drug release behavior from the microgels is temperature-dependent.
► The microgels can be served as a potential targeted drug delivery carrier.