Dual-stimuli responsive behaviors of diblock polyampholyte PDMAEMA-b-PAA in aqueous solution

Two poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(acrylic acid) diblock copolymers, PDMAEMA(84)-b-PAA(18) and PDMAEMA(50)-b-PAA(18), were synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and their dual-stimuli responsive behaviors to the changes in temperature and pH in aqueous solutions were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), (1)H NMR spectroscopy and surface tension measurement. Different from PDMAEMA(84)-b-PAA(18) solutions where no aggregation is observed between pH 7.0 and 9.5, the PDMAEMA(50)-b-PAA(18) aggregates can exist in this broad pH range due to the hydrophobic interactions among the charge-balanced polyampholyte chains. At high pH, e.g., 11.0, the DMAEMA segments collapse to form the core of micelles due to the hydrophobic property of the de-protonized DMAEMA stabilized with the highly ionized AA segments on the surface of the micelles upon heating. At pH around the IEP, e.g., 9.5, large micelles can be formed in PDMAEMA(84)-b-PAA(18) solution upon heating, just like that at pH 11.0, while PDMAEMA(50)-b-PAA(18) first formed the micelles due to the electrostatic attraction between ionized AA segments and protonated DMAEMA segments, but the aggregation of the micelles was hardly happened upon heating due to the smaller DMAEMA segment. Moreover, LCST can be exactly estimated by surface tension experiment.

Molecular structure of physiologically-responsive hydrogels controls diffusive behavior

Polymeric networks and the ensuing hydrogels of MAA and NVP were successfully synthesized using a UV-initiated free radical polymerization and characterized to assess their applicability as carriers for directed drug delivery. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed shifts in peak absorbances that indicated the presence of hydrogen bonding complexes between functional groups, while SEM imaging showed that the different comonomers affect the surface morphology of the microparticles. Dynamic pH swelling studies demonstrated the pH responsiveness of the carriers in gastric and intestinal conditions and revealed that systems containing higher concentrations of MAA experienced the highest degree of hydrogen bonding complexation in gastric conditions. The presence of NVP in the systems enhanced swelling. Equilibrium swelling studies revealed that the mesh size was sufficiently large to allow drug diffusion across the networks.

Fluorescence probe studies on the complexation between poly(methacrylic acid) and poly(N, N-diethylacrylamide)

The complexation between poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and poly(N, N-diethylacrylamide) (PDEAM) in aqueous phase was studied by UV-vis and fluorescence probe techniques. It was demonstrated that the complexation of PMAA with PDEAM occurs within a pH range of 1-6.5 and along with the complexation, the conformation of PMAA changed from a hypercoiled to a loose coiled form. The complex ratio between the two polymers is 1:1 (PMAA:PDEAM, in monomer unit). Salt effect studies showed that the complexation occurred due to formation of hydrogen bonds between the two polymers. Based upon these conclusions and the "compact micelle-like structure" for PMAA at low pH, a "ladder" model was proposed for the structure of PMAA-PDEAM complex formed at low pH.