Zwitterionic nanogels with temperature sensitivity and redox-degradability for controlled drug release

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces, B, Biointerfaces Vol. 206; p. 111959
• Main Authors: Lei, Miao, Zhang, Wenqi, Yi, Chenxi, Yan, Luke, Tian, Yefei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2021
• Subjects: Controlled drug release; redox-responsive; Temperature sensitivity; Zwitterionic polymer; Zwitterionic polymer; Temperature sensitivity; redox-responsive; Controlled drug release
• ISSN: 0927-7765; 1873-4367
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.111959

[Display omitted] •A zwitterionic nanogel with ultrastability and anti-fouling property was developed.•The nanogel shows tunable temperature sensitivity and redox degradability.•The nanogels have potential applications in stimulating drug-controlled release.•Elevated temperature can further promote the drug release in reducing condition. Zwitterionic polymers play an attractive role in the application of stealthy nanocarriers for their excellent antifouling property. Herein, a zwitterionic nanogel with temperature sensitivity and redox-responsive degradability prepared by copolymerization of N-vinylcaprolactam (VCL) and 2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyldimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (DMAPS) via aqueous precipitation polymerization. The prepared nanogels own ultra-high colloidal stability and non-specific protein adsorption resistance as a result of the incorporation of zwitterionic groups. Meanwhile, they exhibit sensitive temperature-induced swelling/collapse transition in aqueous solution and excellent redox-degradability ascribed to the presence of disulfide bonds. The nanogels loaded with anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) exhibit low leakage of DOX under physiological conditions (merely 23.8 % within 24 h), whereas striking release amount of DOX under reducing conditions combined with elevated temperature (93.4 % within 24 h). The measurement of cell viability showed that the cytotoxicity of blank nanogels to tumor cells (HeLa cells) was negligible, while the nanogels loaded with DOX had a prominent inhibitory impact on tumor cells.