Temperature-responsive poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) nanogels for controlled release studies of curcumin

A series of nanogels (NGs) were developed from N-vinylcaprolactam and hydroxyethyl methacrylate through free radical emulsion polymerization using methylene bis acrylamide as cross-linker. Curcumin, an anticancer agent was successfully loaded into these NGs via equilibrium in situ method. These NGs were characterized by Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light-scattering experimental (DLS) techniques. The formation of co-polymeric NGs was confirmed by FTIR analysis. DSC results reveal that the drug was molecularly dispersed in the NG networks. TEM results indicate the formation of NGs, in a spherical shape, with the size of 150 nm. The DLS results also support the formation and size of NGs. An in vitro release study indicates that the NGs may be potentially useful for targeted drug delivery applications.