Both pH and temperature-sensitive copolymer nanogels for controlled release of doxorubicin

Abstract In this study, the synthesis, characterization and doxorubicin release of poly(methyl methacrylate- co -acrylamide) (poly(MMA- co -AAm)) nanogels were studied. The synthesis of copolymer nanogels was carried out by emulsion polymerization. Characterization of nanogels was done by FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis, SEM and Zetasizer methods. Swelling experiments showed that the swelling capacity of the nanogels decreased as the temperature increased, and that they swelled more at pH = 7.4 than at pH = 5.4. Doxorubicin was loaded into the synthesized nanogels. After loading, release studies were carried out at different pHs (2, 4, 5.4, 7.4, 10) at 37 °C and at different temperatures (37, 39, 41 °C) at pH = 5.4. Release studies performed at 37 °C showed that Dox-loaded poly(MMA- co -AAm) nanogels could release 87% of the drug after 4 h at pH = 5.4, while only 12% of the drug was released after 24 h at pH = 7.4. Release studies performed at pH = 5.4 revealed that the Dox-loaded nanogel released 87% of the drug at 37 °C, 90% at 39 °C and 92% at 41 °C. The findings of this study showed that the synthesized poly(MMA- co -AAm) nanogel can be used as a drug carrier for controlled drug release.