Synthesis and Characterization of Thermosensitive Nanoparticles Based on PNIPAAm Core and Chitosan Shell Structure

• Published in: Macromolecular research Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 265 - 270
• Main Authors: Jung, Hyun, Jang, Mi-Kyeong, Nah, Jae-woon, Kim, Yang-Bae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg 한국고분자학회 01.04.2009; Springer-Verlag
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Nanochemistry; Nanotechnology; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Soft and Granular Matter; 고분자공학; chitosan; nanoparticles; thermosensitive; Lower critical solution temperature; lower critical solution temperature
• ISSN: 1598-5032; 2092-7673
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03218690

Noble thermosensitive nanoparticles, based on a PNIPAAm- co -AA core and a chitosan shell structure, were designed and synthesized for the controlled release of the loaded drug. PNIPAAm nanoparticles containing a carboxylic group on their surface were synthesized using emulsion polymerization. The carboxylic groups were conjugated with the amino group of a low molecular weight, water soluble chitosan. The particle size of the synthesized nanoparticles was decreased from 380 to 25 nm as the temperature of the dispersed medium was increased. Chitosan-conjugated nanoparticles with 2∼5 wt% MBA, a crosslinking monomer, induced a stable aqueous dispersion at a concentration of 1 mg/1 mL. The chitosan-conjugated nanoparticles showed thermosensitive behaviors such as LCST and size shrinkage that were affected by the PNIPAAm core and induced some particle aggregation around LCST, which was not shown in the NIPAAm- co -AA nanoparticles. These chitosan-conjugated nanoparticles are also expected to be more biocompatible than the PNIPAAm core itself through the chitosan shell structures.