Issue 18, 2016

Microfluidically fabricated pH-responsive anionic amphiphilic microgels for drug release

Abstract

Amphiphilic microgels of different composition based on the hydrophilic, pH-responsive acrylic acid (AA) and the hydrophobic, non-ionic n-butyl acrylate (BuA) were synthesised using a lab-on-a-chip device. Hydrophobic droplets were generated via a microfluidic platform that contained a protected form of AA, BuA, the hydrophobic crosslinker, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and a free radical initiator in an organic solvent. These hydrophobic droplets were photopolymerised within the microfluidic channels and subsequently hydrolysed, enabling an integrated platform for the rapid, automated, and in situ production of anionic amphiphilic microgels. The amphiphilic microgels did not feature the conventional core–shell structure but were instead based on random amphiphilic copolymers of AA and BuA and hydrophobic crosslinks. Due to their amphiphilic nature they were able to encapsulate and deliver both hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties. The model drug delivery and the swelling ability of the microgels were influenced by the pH of the surrounding aqueous solution and the hydrophobic content of the microgels.

Graphical abstract: Microfluidically fabricated pH-responsive anionic amphiphilic microgels for drug release

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Nov 2015
Accepted
26 Dec 2015
First published
29 Dec 2015
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016,4, 3086-3093

Microfluidically fabricated pH-responsive anionic amphiphilic microgels for drug release

B. Lu, M. D. Tarn, N. Pamme and T. K. Georgiou, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2016, 4, 3086 DOI: 10.1039/C5TB02378E

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