Multi-responsive on-demand drug delivery PMMA-<i>co</i>-PDEAEMA platform based on CO₂, electric potential, and pH switchable nanofibrous membranes

Abstract

This study investigated the release characteristics of curcumin (CUR)-loaded switchable poly(methyl methacrylate)-<i>co</i>-poly(N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PMMA-<i>co</i>-PDEAEMA) membranes following the application of various stimuli, as well as the platform's applicability in wound dressing and tissue engineering applications. The free-radical polymerization method was used to synthesize the PMMA-<i>co</i>-PDEAEMA copolymer. The drug-loaded nanofibrous membrane with electric potential (EP)-, CO₂-, and pH-responsive properties was developed by the electrospinning of PMMA-<i>co</i>-PDEAEMA and CUR. The resulted structure was characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements. The release characteristics of the CUR-loaded wound covering were analyzed in various simulated environments at varying voltages, alternated CO₂/N₂ gas bubbling, and at two different pH values; the results demonstrated high drug release controllability. Loaded CUR displayed high stability and better solubility compared with free CUR. The CUR-loaded tissue also exhibited high antibacterial activity against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>staphylococcus aureus</i> bacteria. In addition, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay depicted high biocompatibility of up to 95% in the CUR-loaded membrane. This platform could be a promising candidate for usage in tissue engineering and medical applications such as targeted drug delivery, biodetection, reversible cell capture-and-release systems, and biosensors.