pH-Responsive P(MAA-co-EGMA) hydrogel microparticles were prepared and their feasibility as intelligent delivery carriers was evaluated. P(MAA-co-EGMA) hydrogel microparticles were synthesized via dispersion photopolymerization. There was a drastic change in the swelling ratio of P(MAA-co-EGMA) microparticles at a pH of ~ 5 and, as the amount of MAA in the hydrogel increased, the swelling ratio increased at a pH above 5. The loading efficiency of the ascorbic acid into the hydrogel was affected more by the degree of swelling of the hydrogel than the electrostatic interaction between the hydrogel and the loaded ascorbic acid. The P(MAA-co-EGMA) hydrogel microparticles showed a pH-sensitive release behavior. Thus, at pH 4 almost none of the ascorbic acid permeated through the skin while at pH 6 relatively high skin permeability was obtained. The ascorbic acid loaded in the hydrogel particles was hardly degraded and its stability was maintained at high temperature.

We studied effects of the 11-Mercaptoundecylphosphoric-acid layer formation on gold surfaces that have the interactions with the titanium dioxide surface for design of gold-titanium dioxide distribution. The atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to measure forces between the surfaces as a function of the salt concentration and pH value. The forces were analyzed with the DLVO (Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek) theory, to evaluate the potential and charge density of the surfaces quantitatively for each salt concentration and each pH value. The interpretation for the evaluation was performed with the law of mass action and the ionizable groups on the surface.

We studied the physical properties of the mercaptopyruvic-acid layer formed on gold surfaces, which has the interactions with the titanium dioxide surface for design of gold-titanium dioxide distribution. Surface force measurements were performed, using the atomic force microscope (AFM), between the surfaces as a function of the salt concentration and pH value. The forces were analyzed with the DLVO (Derjaguin-Landau-VerweyOverbeek) theory, to evaluate the potential and charge density of the surfaces quantitatively for each salt concentration and each pH value. The difference in the properties reflected the effect of the isoelectric point on the surface forces. The forces were interpreted for the evaluation with the law of mass action and the ionizable groups on the surface. The salt concentration dependence of the surface properties, found from the measurement at pH 8.0, was consistent with the prediction from the law. It was found that the mercaptopyruvicacid layer had higher values for the surface charge densities and potentials than the titanium dioxide surfaces at pH 8, which may be attributed to the ionized-functional-groups of the mercaptopyruvic-acid layer.