title: One-pot synthesis of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/chitosan composite microspheres via microemulsion.
abstract: This work presents a new approach for the synthesis of multiresponsive composite microspheres of PNIPAM/chitosan. The resulting microspheres in a sandwich structure with PNIPAM nanoparticles embedded in the crosslinked chitosan matrix were characterized. Compared to other preparation methods, this proposed technique not only is a facile route but also endows the microspheres a desirable structure. The products undergo a temperature induced volume phase transition and exhibit an appreciable pH response. They are further tested as drug carriers to investigate potential application. The encapsulation efficiency in acidic environment (pH=4.0) is 73.5% and much higher than that in neutral (20.3%, pH=6.9) and alkaline (15.1%, pH=9.2) environments. The release of the drug from the microspheres can be controlled by pH and temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Green Chemical Productions of Alcohols, Ethers and Esters, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Qing Lin
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ai Mei
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Qiu Gen
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004655:Emulsions / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008863:Microspheres; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004655:Emulsions; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide; D048271:Chitosan