pH-Responsive Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate / 2- Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate Hydrogels for Effective Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering

Intelligent biomaterials that alter their function through sensing local molecular cues may enable technological advances in the fields of drug delivery, gene delivery, actuators and biosensors. We have synthesized a series of biocompatible polymeric matrices that have a stimuli-induced volume change with pH drop.  The hydrogel is comprised of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacylate (DMAEMA), which is pH-sensitive monomer, and 2-hydorxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), which is a good biocompatible material using for contact lenses. High mass swelling rates were achieved with high content of DMAEMA, low crosslinking density, and low pH buffer condition. For the application of drug delivery, paclitaxel-encapsulated nanoparticles were prepared and examined their sustained drug release effect. Consequentially, DMAEMA/HEMA hydrogels showed superior sensitivity with small pH change and excellent swelling property at low pH range which can be used for drug/gene delivery system and various functional tissue engineering applications.