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Ultrasound-responsive Homopolymer Nanoparticles

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Abstract

Noninvasive ultrasound is a more effective strategy for on-demand drug delivery of polymeric nanoparticles than many other stimuli. However, the preparation of ultrasound-responsive homopolymer nanoparticles is still very challenging. In this study, we disclose the regulating factors of ultrasound responsiveness of homopolymer nanoparticles and the disaggregation behavior of homopolymer nanoparticle aggregates. Homopolymer nanoparticles such as vesicles and large compound micelles (LCMs) are self-assembled from poly(methoxyethyl methacrylate) (PMEMA) and poly(amic acid) (PAA), respectively. The ultrasound responsiveness of PAA vesicles at metastable state could be regulated by tuning the self-assembly temperature (Ts), and was optimized when Ts is around the glass transition temperature (Tg) of PAA. However, the PMEMA LCMs did not respond to ultrasound as they are at stable state. On the other hand, poly(2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate) (PEEA) could self-assemble into vesicle aggregates or complex micelle aggregates, which were dissociated upon sonication. Overall, the above findings provide us with a fresh insight for designing ultrasound-responsive polymeric nanoparticles.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21674081) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 22120180109).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China

    Bo Yang & Jian-Zhong Du

  2. Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai, 201804, China

    Bo Yang & Jian-Zhong Du

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Correspondence to Jian-Zhong Du.

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Yang, B., Du, JZ. Ultrasound-responsive Homopolymer Nanoparticles. Chin J Polym Sci 38, 349–356 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-020-2345-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-020-2345-6

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