Abstract
Nanogels offered a large surface area for biological conjugation due to their nanoscale size, enabling prolonged circulation in the bloodstream and targeted delivery to specific tissues. CMC/POM nanogels composed of 2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO3MA), methacrylic acid (MAA) and natural biopolymer carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), were synthesized via free radical polymerization. The chemical structures of CMC/POM nanogels were characterized using several techniques and the response behaviors under temperature and pH variations were reflected by changes in turbidity and particle size. The results demonstrated that CMC/POM nanogels exhibited significant changes in particle size and turbidity around 38°C and under different pH conditions. Additionally, the unique microstructure of CMC/POM nanogels made them promising for drug delivery through injection therapy. Choosing doxorubicin (DOX) as a model drug, the nanogels could achieve maximum drug loading content of 31.47% and drug loading efficiency of 62.93%. In vitro controlled drug releasing, the efficiency was up to 92.20% within 24 h at T = 45 ℃ & pH = 3.0. The cytotoxicity assays confirmed that CMC/POM nanogels possessed superior biocompatibility and drug-loaded CMC/POM nanogels effectively inhibited the activity of cancer cells. CMC/POM nanogels displayed remarkable potential as intelligent drug delivery systems and were expected to play an essential role in the field of anticancer therapies.