Novel thermogelling dispersions of polymer nanoparticles for controlled protein release.

A novel poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-co-oligo(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate)-poly(acrylic acid) interpenetrating network (IPN) nanoparticle was synthesized. The temperature-responsive properties of the IPN nanoparticles were investigated by a dynamic light scattering method. Atomic force microscopic images confirmed the homogenous and monodisperse morphology of the IPN nanoparticles. Both visual observation and viscosity testing demonstrated that the IPN nanoparticles exhibit thermogelling properties at body temperature, 37 °C. Subsequent studies verified that such temperature-sensitive properties of IPN nanoparticles allow their ease of injection and then slow release of model proteins, both in vitro and in vivo. Histological analysis showed that our IPN implants exerted minimal inflammation following subcutaneous implantation. Our results support the idea that, by simply mixing with proteins of interest, the novel IPN nanoparticles can be used to form in situ thermogelling devices for controlled protein release. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: This paper discusses a temperature responsive interpenetrating network (IPN) polymeric nanoparticle that can be used to form in situ thermogelling devices for controlled protein release by simply mixing them with proteins of interest.