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Authors Huang, X. ; Appelhans, D. ; Formanek, P. ; Simon, F. ; Voit, B.
Title Tailored synthesis of intelligent polymer nanocapsules: An intvestigation of controlled permeability and pH-dependent degradability
Date 27.11.2012
Number 36102
Abstract In this study, we present a new route to synthesize an intelligent polymer nanocapsule with an ultrathin membrane based on surface-initiated reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization. The key concept of our report is to use pH-responsive polydiethylaminoethylmethacrylate as a main membrane-generating component and a degradable disulfide bond to cross-link the membrane. The permeability of membrane, tuned by adjusting pH and using different lengths of the cross-linkers, was proven by showing a dramatic swelling behavior of the nanocapsules with the longest cross-linker from 560 nm at pH 8.0 to 780 nm at pH 4.0. Also, due to the disulfide cross-linker, degradation of the capsules using GSH as reducing agent was achieved which is further significantly promoted at pH 4.0. Using a rather long-chain dithiol cross-linker, the synthesized nanocapsules demonstrated a good permeability allowing that an enzyme myoglobin can be postencapsulated, where the pH controlled enzyme activity by switching membrane permeability was also shown.
Publisher ACS Nano
Wikidata
Citation ACS Nano 6 (2012) 9718-9726
DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/nn3031723
Tags polymer nanocapsules nanoreactor degradability ph sensitive permeability transfer radical polymerization artificial organelles raft polymerization hollow spheres drug carriers capsules nanoparticles vesicles microspheres nanoreactor

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