Polymers and Polymer Composites

Evaluation of a smart polymer nanosphere for potential use in anticancer drug delivery

September 1, 2014 By: Rubini Vimalarasa; Foot P J S; Gianpiero Calabrese Research article

Title: Evaluation of a smart polymer nanosphere for potential use in anticancer drug delivery
Page Range: p.753-762
Author(s): Rubini Vimalarasa; Foot P J S; Gianpiero Calabrese
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 22
Issue No: No.9

Abstract
Polypyrrole-chitosan (ppy-chit) hollow nanospheres have been synthesised using a simple route wherein dispersion polymerisation of pyrrole was followed by treatment with aqueous ammonia, centrifugation and dialysis. Ppy-chit hollow nanospheres were characterised by techniques including transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, powder x-ray diffractometry and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The particle size and stability were assessed by using a Zetasizer. A model anticancer drug, Nile blue chloride, was loaded into the ppy-chit hollow nanospheres by adsorption, and the desorption profile showed that 88% of the dye was released at a typical physiological pH over a period of 5 hours. The combined molecular properties of chitosan and polypyrrole were beneficial to the drug delivery. 20 Refs.


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