pH/redox/thermo-stimulative nanogels with enhanced thermosensitivity via incorporation of cationic and anionic components for anticancer drug delivery

Abstract

To explore the potential biomedical applications of nanogels, it is a key factor to improve their thermosensitivity. In this paper, triple-responsive nanogels poly(N-isopropylacrylamide–N,N′-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate–acrylic acid) (PNDA) were synthesized via in situ incorporating both cationic components and anionic components into a normal thermosensitive polymer matrix. The triple-monomer constructed PNDA nanogels displayed an enhanced thermosensitivity as compared with dual-monomer constructed PND nanogels. The PNDA nanogels presented higher encapsulation efficiency (∼89%) and exhibited better pH/redox/thermo-responsivenesses in an anticancer drug delivery. In vitro biological study indicated that the PNDA nanogels have excellent biocompatibility and improved anticancer cytotoxicity to A549 cells after loading drug DOX.