Dual-stimuli-responsive polymer-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles used for controlled drug delivery

In this article, a temperature- and pH-responsive delivery system based on block-copolymer-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) is presented. A poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)] (PDEAEMA)- b -poly( N -isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) shell on MSNs was obtained through the surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The block copolymer PDEAEMA- b -PNIPAM showed both temperature- and pH-responsive properties. The release of the loaded model molecules from PDEAEMA- b -PNIPAM-coated MSNs could be controlled by changes in the temperature or pH value of the medium. The as-desired drug-delivery carrier may be applied to biological systems in the future. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 42395.