title: Loading and distribution of a model small molecule drug in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brushes: a neutron reflectometry and AFM study.
abstract: The structure of a hydrated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) brush loaded with 5 vol % Isoniazid is studied as a function of temperature using neutron reflectometry (NR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). NR measurements show that Isoniazid increases the thickness of the brush before, during and after the polymer collapse, and it is retained inside the brush at all measured temperatures. The Isoniazid concentration in the expanded brush is ~14% higher than in the bulk solution, and the concentration nearly doubles in the collapsed polymer, suggesting stronger binding between Isoniazid and the polymer compared to water, even at temperatures below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) where the polymer is hydrophilic. Typically, additives that bind strongly to the polymer backbone and increase the hydrophilicity of the polymer will delay the onset of the LCST, which is suggested by AFM and NR measurements. The extent of small-molecule loading and distribution throughout a thermo-responsive polymer brush, such as pNIPAAm, will have important consequences for applications such as drug delivery and gating.
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Notre Dame Center for Nano Science and Technology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
authors: Lindsay C C
authors: LC
authors: Elliott
authors: Benxin
authors: B
authors: Jing
authors: Bulent
authors: B
authors: Akgun
authors: Yingxi
authors: Y
authors: Zhu
authors: Paul W
authors: PW
authors: Bohn
authors: Susan K
authors: SK
authors: Fullerton-Shirey
mesh_terms: D000178:Acrylamides / Q000737:chemistry*; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000178:Acrylamides; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide; D007538:Isoniazid