pH-responsive nanogels for anticancer drug delivery

The study of the mechanisms underlying the uptake and release of bioactive molecules from stimuli-responsive nanoparticles is the key to their application in biomedical fields. Here, we present the pH-controlled release of hydrophilic and hydrophobic agents from newly synthesized nanogels, showing their potential as pH-controlled dual drug delivery systems. Two groups of PEGylated bifunctional silyl ether and the acidic-labile nanogels have been synthesized via two-step free radical solution polymerization. Prepared nanogels were characterized by 1H NMR, zeta potential, TEM and dynamic light scattering (DLS). To study the encapsulation and delivery properties of prepared nanogels, hydrophobic and hydrophilic agents were chosen. The release experiments were run at different pH values and monitored by absorption. Cytotoxicity of prepared nanogels was tested on mouse fibroblasts. The obtained results demonstrate a controlled dual drug release from nanogels depending on the pH of the release media