Multiresponsive polymeric particles with tunable morphology and properties based on acrylonitrile (AN) and 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP)

We report the synthesis of amphiphilic, pH and magnetic field sensitive polymeric particles obtained from the modification of poly(acrylonitrile-co-4-vinylpyridine) (p(AN-c-4-VP)) core-shell nanoparticles. The magnetic metal nanoparticles were encapsulated in the microemulsion during the polymerization to achieve magnetic-p(AN-c-4-VP)-composites with various morphology. We further chemically modified each component of p(AN-c-4-VP) particles and its composite to tune the hydrophilicity of the particles. Modification of nitrile (hydrophobic) groups to amidoxime (hydrophilic) groups by amidoximation reaction on AN, and quarternization of nitrogen on pyridine ring of 4-VP were carried out to tune the hydrophilicity and the charge of the particles. The modification also performed on magnetic responsive composites after inclusion of separately prepared magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. It was further demonstrated that these multiresponsive particles can be used as drug carrier. A nonsteroidal and anti-inflammatory drug Naproxen was used as a model active agent for drug loading and the release studies from (p(AN-c-4-VP) based particles in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7.4) at ambient temperature.