Thermoresponsive Copolymer/SiO2 Nanoparticles with Dual Functions of Thermally Controlled Drug Release and Simultaneous Carrier Decomposition |
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Authors: | Aihua Li Jizhen Zhang Dr. Yuanhong Xu Prof. Jingquan Liu Prof. Shengyu Feng |
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Affiliation: | 1. Key Laboratory of Special Functional Aggregated Materials and Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry (Shandong University), Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100 (P. R. China), Fax: (+531)?8856‐4464;2. College of Chemical Science and Engineering, Laboratory of Fiber Materials and Modern Textile, The Growing Base for State Key Laboratory, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071 (P. R. China), Fax: (+532)?8378‐0128 |
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Abstract: | The preparation of thermoresponsive drug carriers with a self‐destruction property is presented. These drug carriers were fabricated by incorporation of drug molecules and thermoresponsive copolymer, poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐acrylamide), into silica nanoparticles in a one‐pot preparation process. The enhanced drug release was primarily attributed to faster molecule diffusion resulting from the particle decomposition triggered by phase transformation of the copolymer upon the temperature change. The decomposition of the drug carriers into small fragments should benefit their fast excretion from the body. In addition, the resulting drug‐loaded nanoparticles showed faster drug release in an acidic environment (pH 5) than in a neutral one. The controlled drug release of methylene blue and doxorubicin hydrochloride and the self‐decomposition of the drug carriers were successfully characterized by using TEM, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and confocal microscopy. Together with the nontoxicity and excellent biocompatibility of the copolymer/SiO2 composite, the features of controlled drug release and simultaneous carrier self‐destruction provided a promising opportunity for designing various novel drug‐delivery systems. |
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Keywords: | copolymerization cytotoxicity drug delivery nanoparticles thermochemistry |
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