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Biomaterials

Biomaterials - Poster Session A

Poster C8 - Comparing P(NIPAM-co-MAA) Nanoparticles with P(NIPAM-co-IA) Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Applications

Thursday, October 24, 2024
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Location: Exhibit Hall E, F & G

Introduction:  Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), (P(NIPAM), is known for its temperature-responsive properties, undergoing a transition around 31°C where it shifts from a swollen state below this temperature to a collapsed state above it. This reversible behavior makes P(NIPAM) ideal for applications in tissue engineering, controlled drug delivery systems, and other bioengineering fields. As peptide-based drugs advance, protecting proteins in hostile environments and releasing them in response to environmental cues become critical. To address this, protein loading, and release are regulated by factors including interactions between protein surfaces and polymer chains. Previous research from our lab has modified methacrylic acid (MAA) carboxyl groups to amide groups post-synthesis, exploring their interactions with proteins via electrostatic interactions. Here, we propose investigating the impact of incorporating additional carboxyl groups using itaconic acid (IA) on these protein-polymer interactions to enhance our
understanding of how such modifications influence the functionality of P(NIPAM) in biomedical applications.

Materials and

Methods:  P(NIPAM) was co-polymerized with either methacrylic acid (MAA) or itaconic acid (IA) monomers via a free radical precipitation polymerization, introducing additional carboxyl groups to evaluate their impact on protein-polymer dynamics. Briefly, N-isopropyl acrylamide
(NIPAM), methacrylic acid (MAA) or itaconic acid (IA), and N'-methylene bisacrylamide (crosslinking agent) were combined in a round bottom flask with water, purged with nitrogen, and heated to 70°C. Then, the solution was initiated with potassium persulfate and left to react
for 4 hours, after which the nanoparticles were purified by dialysis, lyophilized, and stored at room temperature for future analysis. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS) to determine their zeta potential, polydispersity, hydrodynamic
diameter in PBS, and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to determine successful polymer synthesis.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions: FT-IR analysis confirmed successful synthesis of P(NIPAM-co-MAA) and P(NIPAM-coIA) polymers, evidenced by distinct peaks at approximately 1650 cm -1 (indicative of the carbonyl group from MAA) and around 1530 cm-1 (corresponding to the secondary amide bending group of NIPAM). The intensified carbonyl peak at 1650 cm-1 in P(NIPAM-co-MAA) indicated the incorporation of an additional carboxylic acid group from IA, enhancing the dipole moment. Results obtained from DLS demonstrated the thermoresponsive behavior of both nanoparticle formulations, notably showing a collapse transition around 32°C, essential for potential drug delivery applications. The ratios of swollen to collapse states were 0.65 for P(NIPAM-co-MAA) and 0.59 for P(NIPAM-co-IA). Zeta potential measurements were more negative for P(NIPAM-co-IA) compared to P(NIPAM-co-MAA), underscoring differences in surface charge due to the presence of carboxyl groups between the formulations. Additionally,
both polymers exhibited polydispersity indices below 0.2, indicating synthesis of monodispersed nanoparticles. These findings collectively validate the successful synthesis and characterization of P(NIPAM-co-MAA) and P(NIPAM-co-IA), highlighting their versatility and potential in future
biomedical and pharmaceutical applications where precise control over drug delivery and biological interactions is paramount. Future studies aim to investigate protein interactions with the synthesized nanoparticle formulations for applications in drug delivery.

Acknowledgements (Optional):  The author would like to thank Dr. Marissa Wechsler, Ryan Dennett, and associates of the Wechsler Lab for their generous insight and contributions in various aspects of this study.