Thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-glycidyl methacrylate) microgels for controlled drug release

A new type of thermosensitive microgels with epoxy functional groups is designed and synthesized for drug delivery. The thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (designated as P(NIPAM-co-GMA)) microgels are prepared by an emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization method and the chemical composition of the copolymer is determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR). The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the microgels is 32 degrees C based on the transmittance changes at 500 nm monitored by UV/visible spectrophotometry. The hydrodynamic diameter and morphology of the microgel particles are examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The drug release properties determined using 5-FU as the drug model in vitro reveal temperature dependence and low cytotoxicity. The thermosensitive microgels have large potential as targeted anti-cancer drug carriers. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.