Synthesis and characterization of monodispersed P(St-co-DMAEMA) nanoparticles as pH-sensitive drug delivery system

•We prepared pH-sensitive NPs with diameter about 100 nm and narrow size distribution.•The volume swelling ratios are highly pH-dependent.•The NPs present fast drug release under acidic conditions.

Monodispersed poly(styrene-co-N,N′-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) nanoparticles (P(St-co-DMAEMA) NPs) were synthesized by emulsion polymerization. Zeta potential, volume swelling ratio and in vitro release of fluorescer coumarin-6 from the NPs were determined in buffer of various pH. With an optimized formulation, the diameter of NPs is 100 nm approximately and the polydispersity index (PI) is less than 0.1. The NPs have a hydrophilic surface and alterable surface charge which is almost neutral at normal physiological pH, but becomes much more positive under acidic conditions. The volume swelling ratios and in vitro release of coumarin-6 are highly dependent on pH, which are significantly increased at the lower pH and higher DMAEMA/St molar ratio. More than 70% of the loaded coumarin-6 could be released in 24 h at pH 2, which is 2.3-folds higher than that at normal physiological pH. The P(St-co-DMAEMA) NPs show promising applications to targeted drug delivery to tumors.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide