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ABSTRACT
A pH-responsive drug release system based on doxorubicin conjugated poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT/PSMA-DOX) was prepared by the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and acid-cleavable hydrazone linkages. Firstly, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were modified with a furfuryl derivative RAFT agent by Diels-Alder reaction. The polymerization of styrene and maleic anhydride was carried out in the presence of functionalized MWNTs to afford MWNT/PSMA. The maleic anhydride ring located along the polymer chains was opened by hydrazine subsequently conjugated with doxorubicin via an acid-sensitive hydrazone bond. The composite materials were characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, TGA and TEM analysis. In vitro experiments showed a burst release of doxorubicin at pH 5.0 whereas slight release at pH 7.4.
Funding
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2015R1D1A3A01019109).