Preparation and drug release property of CO2 stimulus-sensitive poly(N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-b-polystyrene nanoparticles

The CO2 stimulus-sensitive nanoparticles based on poly(N, N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-b-poly styrene (PDMAEMA-b-PS) were prepared via surfactant-free miniemulsion reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The as-prepared nanoparticles exhibited core–shell structure with about 120 nm in diameter. Their dispersion/aggregation in water can be adjusted by alternatively bubbling of CO2 and N2. Drug release from these nanoparticles can be accelerated (or delayed) by bubbling (or removing) of CO2.