title: Galactose functionalized injectable thermoresponsive microgels for sustained protein release.
abstract: Novel galactose functionalized thermoresponsive injectable microgels, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-6-O-vinyladipoyl-D-galactose) P(NIPAAm-co-VAGA), have been fabricated using a combination of enzymatic transesterification and emulsion copolymerization. The microgels exhibit reversible temperature-responsive behavior, which can be tuned by varying the monomer feed ratio. The lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of the materials are close to body temperature and can result in a rapid thermal gelation at 37 °C. Field emission scanning electron microscopy showed the resultant microgels to have porous structures, and dynamic light scattering experiments indicated a dramatic reduction in particle size as solutions of the polymers are heated through the LCST. The polymers can be loaded with protein (bovine serum albumin; BSA), and in vitro studies showed that the BSA release kinetics depend upon the temperature and copolymer composition. Microgels based on P(NIPAAm-co-VAGA) could hence serve as candidates for site-specific sustained release drug delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, PR China.
authors.forename: Shao-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, PR China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
authors.forename: Gareth R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, PR China.
authors.forename: Huali
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, PR China; Key Laboratory of Science & Technology of Eco-Textile, Donghua University, Ministry of Education, 201620, PR China. Electronic address: jquan@dhu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, PR China. Electronic address: lzhu@dhu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005690:Galactose / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D005690:Galactose
keywords: Emulsion polymerization; Glycopolymer; Injectable microgels; Poly(NIPAAm-co-VAGA); Protein release