1. Microfluidically fabricated pH-responsive anionic amphiphilic microgels for drug release
- Author
-
Mark D. Tarn, Bingyuan Lu, Theoni K. Georgiou, and Nicole Pamme
- Subjects
Technology ,Materials science ,Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate ,Materials Science ,Biomedical Engineering ,MODIFIED POLY(ACRYLIC ACID) ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,GROUP-TRANSFER POLYMERIZATIONS ,Polymer chemistry ,Amphiphile ,General Materials Science ,Acrylic acid ,Materials Science, Biomaterials ,ORGANIC-DYE REMOVAL ,STAR COPOLYMERS ,ARCHITECTURE ,Acrylate ,Science & Technology ,Aqueous solution ,POLYMER COMPOSITION ,General Chemistry ,General Medicine ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,METHACRYLIC-ACID ,NETWORKS ,0104 chemical sciences ,MODEL CONETWORKS ,chemistry ,Methacrylic acid ,Drug delivery ,Radical initiator ,2-(DIMETHYLAMINO)ETHYL METHACRYLATE ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Amphiphilic microgels of different composition based on the hydrophilic, pH-responsive acrylic acid (AA) and the hydrophobic, non-ionic n-butyl acrylate (BuA) were synthesised using a lab-on-a-chip device. Hydrophobic droplets were generated via a microfluidic platform that contained a protected form of AA, BuA, the hydrophobic crosslinker, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and a free radical initiator in an organic solvent. These hydrophobic droplets were photopolymerised within the microfluidic channels and subsequently hydrolysed, enabling an integrated platform for the rapid, automated, and in situ production of anionic amphiphilic microgels. The amphiphilic microgels did not feature the conventional core–shell structure but were instead based on random amphiphilic copolymers of AA and BuA and hydrophobic crosslinks. Due to their amphiphilic nature they were able to encapsulate and deliver both hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties. The model drug delivery and the swelling ability of the microgels were influenced by the pH of the surrounding aqueous solution and the hydrophobic content of the microgels.
- Published
- 2020