Multifunctional Hybrid Nanogel for Integration of Optical Glucose Sensing and Self-Regulated Insulin Release at Physiological pH

Abstract

Optical detection of glucose, high drug loading capacity, and self-regulated drug delivery are simultaneously possible using a multifunctional hybrid nanogel particle under a rational design in a colloid chemistry method. Such hybrid nanogels are made of Ag nanoparticle (NP) cores covered by a copolymer gel shell of poly(4-vinylphenylboronic acid-co-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate) [p(VPBA-DMAEA)]. The introduction of the glucose sensitive p(VPBA-DMAEA) gel shell onto Ag NPs makes the polymer-bound Ag NPs responsive to glucose. While the small sized Ag cores (10 +/- 3 nm) provide fluorescence as an optical code, the responsive polymer gel shell can adapt to a surrounding medium of different glucose concentrations over a clinically relevant range (0-30 mM), convert the disruptions in homeostasis of glucose level into optical signals, and regulate release of preloaded insulin. This shows a new proof-of-concept for diabetes treatment that exploits the properties from each building block of a multifunctional nano-object. The highly versatile multifunctional hybrid nanogels could potentially be used for simultaneous optical diagnosis, self-regulated therapy, and monitoring of the response to treatment.

A Fluorescent Responsive Hybrid Nanogel for Closed-Loop Control of Glucose

“…5,6 Our group and other groups have predominantly improved the response speed by downsizing the glucoseresponsive hydrogels into submicron and even nanogels. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] In contrast to bulk hydrogels, the microgels/nanogels can be dispersed in water while preserving a highly stable structure. Moreover, with the inorganic quantum dots (QDs) or nanoparticles (NPs) being physically restricted in the polymer networks, the obtained inorganic-polymer hybrid microgels/nanogels could optically read out the glucose concentrations in aqueous solutions.…”

Sulfonate-modified phenylboronic acid-rich nanoparticles as a novel mucoadhesive drug delivery system for vaginal administration of protein therapeutics: improved stability, mucin-dependent release and effective intravaginal placement

“…PBNP-S were synthesized as described in previous reports 18,23 except that SSS was included in the polymerization at the weight ratio in the total monomers of 5% (the product nanoparticles named as PBNP-S5) and 10% (as PBNP-S10). Briefly, in a 250 mL round-bottom flask equipped with a stirrer (MS-H-Pro + stirrer; Dragon Lab Inc., Beijing, People's Republic of China) and a N 2 gas inlet, 100 mL SDS solution (0.053%, w/v) was heated to 30°C, followed by the addition of VPBA (0.970 g) and appropriate amounts of SSS, MBAAm and EGDMA under stirring.…”

Recent Developments in R.F. Magnetron Sputtered Thin Films for pH Sensing Applications—An Overview

“…pH measurements have conventionally relied on either optical [41][42][43][44][45] or electrochemical techniques [46][47][48][49][50]. Optical methods offer high sensitivity and non-invasiveness, however, they often require the use of dyes, which can change their optical properties due to interactions with specific analytes.…”