SBA-15/P[(N-ipaam)-co-(MAA)] thermo and pH-sensitive hybrid systems and their methotrexate (MTX) incorporation and release studies

Abstract

Poly[(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(mathacrylic acid)])(P[(N-iPAAm)-co-(MAA)]) hydrogel was synthesized by free radical polymerization varying the fractions between the monomers on the presence of mesoporous silica (MPS) forming different thermo and pH-sensitive hybrid systems aiming bioapplications as highly specific drug delivery systems (DDS).Synthesizing the hydrogel in the presence of MPS created an organic-inorganic hybrid which was compared to the pure hydrogel. The drug Methotrexate (MTX), commonly used in cancer treatments, was loaded into the studied hybrid and MPS samples and its release behavior was studied using UV–Vis Spectroscopy in different media at different temperatures to ensure the sensibility of the DDS to external stimuli. The synthesized materials were characterized by nitrogen adsorption (BET), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), elemental analysis (CHN), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results have been positive showing that the mesoporous silica was successfully synthesized, the same positive results being found for the obtaining and incorporation to the MPS of the thermo and pH-sensitive hydrogel. The MTX release studies indicate the planned sensibility to different external factors and place the SBA-15/P[(N-iPAAm)-co-(MAA)] as a candidate for smart DDS targeting cancer treatment.