Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogel Based on Poly((2-Dimethylamino)Ethyl Methacrylate) Grafted onto Sodium Alginate as a Drug Delivery System

In this article, a novel stimuli hydrogel was prepared by simultaneous formation of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) and crosslinking of poly((2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) grafted onto sodium alginate. The structural and morphological properties of hydrogel were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. Swelling capacity was measured at different temperatures, salts solutions with different multivalent, different pH, and magnetic field to assess the sensitivity of iron oxide nanocomposite hydrogel (ION-hydrogel). Moreover, drug loading and release efficiency were investigated at different pH, temperature, and magnetic field using doxorubicin as an anticancer drug. Drug release studies have shown significant dependence on simulated physiological pH values and external alternative magnetic fields. These results suggested that the ION-hydrogel could be a promising candidate for biomedical applications.