Smart pH-Sensitive Nanogels for Controlled Release in an Acidic Environment

Abstract

The encapsulation of therapeutic compounds into nanosized delivery vectors has become an important strategy to improve efficiency and reduce side effects in drug delivery applications. Here, we report the synthesis of pH-sensitive nanogels, which are based on the monomer N-[(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane)­methyl]­acrylamide (DMDOMA) bearing an acid cleavable acetal group. Degradation studies revealed that these nanogels hydrolyze under acidic conditions and degrade completely, depending on the cross-linker, but are stable in physiological environment. The best performing system was further studied regarding its release kinetics using the anticancer drug doxorubicin. In vitro studies revealed a good compatibility of the unloaded nanogel and the capability of the doxorubicin loaded nanogel to mediate cytotoxic effects in a concentration and time-dependent manner with an even higher efficiency than the free drug. Based on the investigated features, the presented nanogels represent a promising and conveniently prepared alternative to existing carrier systems for drug delivery.

Strategies To Design and Synthesize Polymer‐Based Stimuli‐Responsive Drug‐Delivery Nanosystems

“…As the carrier of DOX, it liberated DOX rapidly in the hypoxic tumor tissue; this was further accelerated by the conversion of NI into AI (Scheme B) . Recently, Brendel and co‐workers reported hydrophobic/‐philic switchable monomer–base nanogels, in which the acetal groups of monomers could be degraded to dihydroxy groups under acidic conditions . Due to the hydrophobic‐to‐hydrophilic conversion caused by this degradation, drug‐encapsulated nanogels could liberate the drugs into cancer cells with the triggering of acidity.…”

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“…Peng Wei and colleagues (2018) have synthesised a pH-sensitive nanogels by using a monomer N-[(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane) methyl] acrylamide (DMDOMA) bearing an acid cleavable acetal group. These seemed to be a promising and conveniently prepared alternative to existing carrier systems for drug delivery [108]. Thus, nanogels seem to be potential candidate in the development of new nanocarriers for anti-cancer drug delivery.…”

Trendbericht: Makromolekulare Chemie

“…Anschließend untersuchten sie den Wirkstofftransport anhand von Zellexperimenten mit Doxoribicinbeladenen Nanogelen. 12) Die Formierung eines Proteinnanopartikelsystems auf Cytochrom-C-Basis beschrieben Wich und Mitarbeiter. Dabei modifizier-ten sie die Oberfläche mit säurelabilem Poly(ethylenglykol) (PEG), was die im Polyethergerüst verteilten Vinylether-Einheiten bei pH unter 5 ermöglichen.…”