Chondroitin sulfate-based (NMChS) nanogels synthesized by inverse microemulsion polymerization method for drug delivery were reported. The properties of NMChS were investigated by light scattering, FTIR, (1)H NMR and transmission electron microscopy observations. The results showed that the size of NMChS nanogels could be controlled in the range of 145-340 nm by changing the degree of maleoyl substitution of chondroitin sulfate, and these nanogels were responsive to pH changes, which exhibited extended stability in aqueous media and low cytotoxicity in vitro by MTT assays. When these nanogels were loaded with doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl), a cytotoxic drug for cancer treatment, the high loading ability and the pH triggered-release of drug were obtained due to the electrostatic interactions between drug and matrix, and the pore size of the polymer network. This study clearly showed that the chondroitin sulfate-based nanogels are biocompatible and biodegradable, rendering potential for drug delivery applications.
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