| Title: |
Dual pH- and thermoresponsive nano-objects with tunable morphologies and dye encapsulation prepared via aqueous emulsion polymerization-induced self-assembly |
| Authors: |
Lukáš Petrova, Svetlana; Vragovič, Martina; Pavlova, Ewa; Hrubý, Martin; Pokorný, Václav |
| Contributors: |
Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy; European Union |
| Source: |
Royal Society Open Science ; volume 13, issue 3 ; ISSN 2054-5703 |
| Publisher Information: |
The Royal Society |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Description: |
Poly(triethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate)-b-poly[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PTEGMA-b-PDPA) nano-objects, synthesized via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), exhibit dual thermo- and pH-responsive behaviour. The thermoresponsiveness originates from the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the PTEGMA block, while the pH-responsiveness arises from protonation of the PDPA block under acidic conditions. The hydrophilic PTEGMA block (degree of polymerization, DP = 120) was first synthesized to serve as a macro-chain transfer agent. This was followed by reversible addition−fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (RAFT)-mediated PISA emulsion polymerization of the pH-sensitive PDPA block (DP = 35–265) in aqueous solution at a solid content of 10 wt%. During polymerization, the block copolymers self-assembled in situ into diverse and tunable nanostructures, including micelles, branched worms, ‘jellyfish’ and thick-walled vesicles. These nano-objects were thoroughly characterized using cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The in situ drug encapsulation capability of these dual-responsive nano-formulations was demonstrated using Nile Red (NR), a hydrophobic fluorescent model compound. Specifically, thick-walled vesicles (PTEGMA120-b-PDPA265) successfully encapsulated NR during RAFT-PISA synthesis and released it under acidic conditions and/or at mildly elevated temperatures. These results highlight the potential of tailorable PTEGMA-b-PDPA nano-objects as ‘smart’ nanocarriers for targeted and stimuli-responsive drug delivery applications. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| DOI: |
10.1098/rsos.252454 |
| DOI: |
10.1098/rsos.252454/6127609/rsos.252454.pdf |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.252454; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article-pdf/doi/10.1098/rsos.252454/6127609/rsos.252454.pdf |
| Rights: |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.4B1FC1C6 |
| Database: |
BASE |