Differentially degradable janus particles for controlled release applications

Abstract

Janus particles with differentially degradable compartments were prepared by electrohydrodynamic (EHD) co-jetting and subsequent controlled crosslinking. These bicompartmental particles are composed of an interpenetrating polymer network of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) in one hemisphere and a crosslinked copolymer of dextran and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) segments in the second compartment. The compositional anisotropy caused differential hydrolytic susceptibility: Although both compartments were stable at pH 3.0, selective degradation of the PEO-containing compartment pH 7.4 was observed wtihin 5 days. Janus particles with differentially degradable polymer compartments may be of interest for a range of oral drug delivery applications because of their propensity for decoupled release profiles. Submicrometer sized Janus particles are prepared by electrohydrodynamic co-jetting. Two compartments in the polymer particles are designed to exhibit distinctive physicochemical properties depending on hydrolytic stabilities at different pHs. Although both compartments are stable at a low pH, one compartment is selectively degradable at physiological pH and temperature. Such pH responsive anisotropic particles are useful in targeted drug delivery. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.