Designing of smart nanogels based on tragacanth gum for cisplatin delivery

Abstract

AbstractThe present work deals with the development of smart nanogels with a coating of a lipid layer, which synergized the triggered delivery of the anticancer drug cisplatin (CP). In the first step, the chemical initiation method was used for the grafting of poly(itaconic acid) on tragacanth gum (TG). Subsequently, this grafted TG matrix was used for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Nanoemulsion process was followed to prepare CP‐loaded grafted TG–lecithin (GTG‐LC) nanogels using dioctyl sulfosuccinate as the surfactant. These nanoparticles were characterized for size, morphology, elemental composition and crystallinity. Transmission electron microscopy images of the GTG‐LC nanogels with varying concentrations of CP demonstrate an irregular polygonal shape of the nanoparticles which is strongly influenced by the CP concentration. The smart nanogels exhibit a unique structure, nano‐within‐nano, a structure where nanosized CP is encapsulated within the GTG‐LC nanogel. Grafted nanogels have a high carboxyl functionality and exhibit pH‐sensitive behavior leading to pH‐responsive drug release behavior. These nanogels show required biocompatibility and offer interesting material for nanomedicines in chemotherapy. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry.