Particle & Particle Systems Characterization, Vol.31, No.1, 101-109, 2014
Production of Cationic Nanogels with Potential Use in Controlled Drug Delivery
Dual-stimuli-responsive nanogel particles based on poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl) methacrylate (PDEAEMA) cross-linked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) are prepared via batch emulsion polymerization. An in-depth study of their swelling behavior is carried out, which presents a dual-dependent thermo- and pH-sensitivity tunable with the ionic strength. The study reveals that nanogel particles undergo a unique transition from a swollen state to a collapsed state at physiological conditions. Such systems presenting tunable sensitivity and synthesized using biocompatible components could be suitable for applications in the field of controlled drug or gene delivery.