[Frontiers in Bioscience E4, 1314-1334, January 1, 2012]

Size matters: smart copolymeric nanohydrogels: synthesis and applications

Issa Katime1, Luis Guillermo Guerrero2, Eduardo Mendizabal2

1Grupo de Nuevos Materiales y Espectroscopia Supramolecular, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnologia. Campus de Leioa, Spain, 2Departamento de Quimica, CUCEI, Universidad de Guadalajara, Boulevard Marcelino Garcia Barragan 1451, Jalisco, Mexico

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Objectives
4. Hydrogels
4.1. Hydrogels properties
4.2. Biocompatibility
4.3 .Hydrogels synthesis
5. Swelling theory
5.1. Factors affecting the swelling
6. Smart nanohydrogels
7. Nanohydrogels sensitive to changes in pH
8. Thermosensitive nanogels
8.1. Nanogels sensitive to other variations
9. Nanogels containing one specific biological receptor
10. Receptor mediated endocytosis (RME)
11. Applications of hydrogels
11.1. Application of smart nanohydrogels in controlled release of drug
11.2. Treatment of diseases by using smart nanogels
11.3. Smart targeted nanogels for cancer therapy
11.4. Smart nanogels for tuberculosis therapy
12. References

1. ABSTRACT

In this work the synthesis of smart nanoparticles capable of respond to external stimulus (pH and temperature variations) is reported. To avoid post-polymerization modification, functionalized monomers able to respond to pH and temperature changes were and then polymerized. The synthesized monomers have the capability for coupling with folic acid which is the target molecule. For this reason their polymers can be used as targeted drug delivery systems. Smart polymeric nanoparticles were prepared by direct and inverse microemulsion polymerization of the synthesized monomers. The nanoparticles were charged with drugs and their release kinetic was studied.