Poly(sucrose) micro particles preparation and their use as biomaterials

•Microgel particles based on sucrose.•Magnetic field responsive p(sucrose) particles as drug delivery devices.•Tunable p(sucrose) microgels as food source for bacteria.•Biocompatible and biodegradable p(sucrose) microgels.

Crosslinked p(sucrose) micro particles were synthesized for the first time from sucrose in water-in-oil microemulsion. Using divinyl sulfone (DVS) as crosslinker via reverse micelles of sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) p(sucrose) micro particles formed in a single step with very high yield (>90%). The particles have wide size distributions, and negative zeta potential, −27.30 mV, and can be made magnetic field responsive. P(sucrose) particles were shown to be degradable at pHs of 2.5 and 11. Dopamine and gallic acid were used as model drugs for absorption/release studies from p(sucrose) particles. Interestingly, it was shown that p(sucrose) microparticles can be a nutrient for Escherichia coli, and maybe used as a growth medium for other cells, bacteria and organisms. Additionally, the cytotoxic effect of p(sucrose) particles were determined as 26 and 32.5% dead cells against MDA MB-231 cancerous cells and L929 fibroblast cells at 100 ug/ml concentration, respectively. P(sucrose) particles can be safely used for in vivo applications.