title: Multi-stimuli sensitive amphiphilic block copolymer assemblies.
abstract: Stimuli-responsive polymers are arguably the most widely considered systems for a variety of applications in biomedical arena. We report here a novel triple stimuli sensitive block copolymer assembly that responds to changes in temperature, pH and redox potential. Our block copolymer design constitutes an acid-sensitive THP-protected HEMA as the hydrophobic part and a temperature-sensitive PNIPAM as the hydrophilic part with an intervening disulfide bond. The micellar properties and the release kinetics of the encapsulated guest molecule in response to one stimulus as well as combinations of stimuli have been evaluated. Responsiveness to combination of stimuli not only allows for fine-tuning the guest molecule release kinetics, but also provides the possibility of achieving location-specific delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Akamol
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klaikherd
authors.forename: Chikkannagari
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nagamani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thayumanavan
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D000178:Acrylamides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007700:Kinetics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008823:Micelles; D010078:Oxazines / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011714:Pyrans / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D000178:Acrylamides; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008689:Methacrylates; D008823:Micelles; D010078:Oxazines; D011108:Polymers; D011714:Pyrans; D014867:Water; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide; C005044:hydroxyethyl methacrylate; C044808:nile red