Data from: Dual pH-and thermoresponsive nano-objects with tunable morphologies and dye encapsulation prepared via aqueous emulsion PISA

Poly(triethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate)-b-poly
[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PTEGMAb-PDPA) nano-objects,
synthesized via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), exhibit dual
thermo-and pH-responsive behavior. The thermoresponsiveness originates
from the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the PTEGMA block,
while the pH-responsiveness arises from protonation of the PDPA block
under acidic conditions. The hydrophilic PTEGMA block (degree of
polymerization, DP = 120) was first synthesized to serve as a macro-chain
transfer agent. This was followed by RAFT-mediated PISA emulsion
polymerization of the pH-sensitive PDPA block (DP = 35-265) in aqueous
solution at a solid content of 10 wt%. During polymerization, the block
copolymers self-assembled in situ into diverse and tunable nanostructures,
including micelles, branched worms, "jellyfish", and
thick-walled vesicles. These nano-objects were thoroughly characterized
using cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), dynamic light
scattering (DLS), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The in situ
drug encapsulation capability of these dual-responsive nanoformulations
was demonstrated using Nile Red (NR), a hydrophobic fluorescent model
compound. Specifically, thick-walled vesicles (PTEGMA 120 -b-PDPA 265 )
successfully encapsulated NR during RAFT-PISA synthesis and released it
under acidic conditions and/or at mildly elevated temperatures. These
results highlight the potential of tailorable PTEGMA-b-PDPA nano-objects
as "smart" nanocarriers for targeted and stimuli-responsive drug
delivery applications.

聚(甲基丙烯酸三乙二醇单甲醚酯)-b-聚[甲基丙烯酸2-(二异丙基氨基)乙酯]（PTEGMA-b-PDPA）纳米对象，通过聚合诱导自组装（polymerization-induced self-assembly, PISA）合成，展现出热与pH双重响应行为。热响应性源自PTEGMA链段的低临界溶液温度（lower critical solution temperature, LCST），而pH响应性则源于PDPA链段在酸性条件下的质子化反应。亲水性PTEGMA链段（聚合度，degree of polymerization, DP = 120）首先被合成，用作大分子链转移剂；随后在固含量为10 wt%的水溶液中，通过可逆加成-断裂链转移（reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer, RAFT）介导的PISA乳液聚合，制备pH敏感型PDPA链段（DP = 35~265）。聚合过程中，嵌段共聚物原位自组装形成多种可调控的纳米结构，包括胶束、分支状蠕虫、“水母状”结构以及厚壁囊泡。研究人员采用冷冻透射电子显微镜（cryo-transmission electron microscopy, cryo-TEM）、动态光散射（dynamic light scattering, DLS）与小角X射线散射（small-angle X-ray scattering, SAXS）对这类纳米对象进行了全面表征。以疏水性荧光模型化合物尼罗红（Nile Red, NR）为模型，验证了该双重响应纳米制剂的原位药物包载能力：具体而言，厚壁囊泡（PTEGMA₁₂₀-b-PDPA₂₆₅）在RAFT-PISA合成过程中成功包载NR，并能在酸性条件及/或温和升温条件下实现药物释放。上述结果凸显了可定制化PTEGMA-b-PDPA纳米对象作为“智能”纳米载体，应用于靶向刺激响应型药物递送领域的潜力。