Pharmaceutical Research, 2011, 28(6), 1294-1305; Synthesis of Temperature-Responsive Dextran-MA/PNIPAAm Particles for Controlled Drug Delivery Using Superhydrophobic Surfaces,
writer：A. C. Lima, Wenlong Song, B. Blanco-Fernandez, C. Alvarez-Lorenzo, J. F. Mano,
keywords：superhydrophobic, hydrogel bead, pnipaam hydrogel
source：期刊
Issue time：2015年
Purpose
To implement a bioinspired methodology using superhydrophobic surfaces suitable for producing smart hydrogel beads in which the bioactive substance is introduced in the particles during their formation.
Methods
Several superhydrophobic surfaces, including polystyrene, aluminum and copper, were prepared. Polymeric solutions composed by photo-crosslinked dextran-methacrylated and thermal responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) mixed with a protein (insulin or albumin) were dropped on the superhydrophobic surfaces, and the obtained millimetric spheres were hardened in a dry environment under UV light.
Results
Spherical and non-sticky hydrogels particles were formed in few minutes on the superhydrophobic surfaces. The proteins included in the liquid formulation were homogeneously distributed in the particle network. The particles exhibited temperature-sensitive swelling, porosity and protein release rate, with the responsiveness tunable by the dextran-MA/PNIPAAm weight ratio.
Conclusions
The proposed method permitted the preparation of smart hydrogel particles in one step with almost 100% encapsulation yield. The temperature-sensitive release profiles suggest that the obtained spherical-shaped biomaterials are suitable as protein carriers. These stimuli-responsive beads could have potential to be used in pharmaceutical or other biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.