Tunable Poly((methacrylic acid)-co-acrylamide) Nanoparticles through Inverse Emulsion Polymerization

摘要

We have successfully synthesized poly((methacrylic acid)-co-acrylamide) nanoparticles through an inverse emulsion polymerization and explored the effects of polymerization parameters and monomer ratios on particle size and pH response. These nanoparticles are pH responsive, demonstrating a collapse in acidic environments. Furthermore, these particles are suitably sized for an injectable system and highly amenable to bioconjugation and other surface modifications through the pendant carboxylic acids of methacrylic acid in the backbone. These nanoparticles are the foundation for an intelligent hydrogel drug delivery vehicle, and this study establishes a framework for fabricating polyanionic nanoparticles with a variety of physical properties for alternate medical applications.