Polymeric nanoparticles prepared using salt bridges between [(dimethylamino)propyl]-octadecanamide and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid)

Polymeric lipid nanoparticles were prepared in 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid buffer (pH 8.0, 10 mM) by taking advantage of salt bridges formed between poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) (P(NIPAM-co-MAA)) and N-3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-octadecanamide (DMAPODA). The homogeneous nanoparticles of 200–250 nm were obtained when the copolymer was included in the preparation so that the relative mass of copolymer to lipid was more than 5. However, when the relative amount of copolymer was less than 5, large agglomerates more than 10 μm were observed together with nanoparticles. The protonated amino groups of DMAPODA will attach to the ionized carboxyl groups of P(NIPAM-co-MAA), and they would act as polymeric amphiphiles. It is believed that the hydrophilic copolymer can stabilize the hydrophobic core of the lipid. The critical association concentrations were determined to be 32, 112, and 158 mg/l, when the lipid/copolymer ratios were 1:5, 1:23, and 1:50, respectively.