title: Controlled release and assembly of drug nanoparticles via pH-responsive polymeric micelles: a theoretical study.
abstract: Tumor tissues often have a pH value lower than normal tissues, and this difference suggests a promising way of targeted cancer therapy by using pH-controlled drug delivery systems. On the basis of the mean-field theory, we present a theoretical methodology to predict the self-assembly and disassembly of pH-responsive polymers and nanoparticles in an ionic solution. It is found that vesicles, cylindrical, and spherical micelles can rapidly disassemble and release contained nanoparticles in a narrow pH range. The model is further used to study the controlled assembly of pH-sensitive drug with significantly improved encapsulation efficiency. This method is also applicable for the design of controlled delivery nanodevices for various biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, AML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Kui
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xi-Qiao
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huajian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008823:Micelles; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions