A dual stimuli responsive nanogel-polyelectrolyte complex based on electrostatic coating has been developed. The nanoassembly is designed to elicit two disparate responses (viz. surface property change and guest encapsulation stability) from two different stimuli (viz. pH and redox variations). In this complex, the polyelectrolyte has charge-conversional features � i.e. the charge in the polyelectrolyte will change from negative to positive charge at low pH. The nanogel(NG) is capable of sequestering hydrophobic guest molecules that are released in response to change in the redox environment. The nanogel has a positively charged surface so as to complement the polyelectrolyte during the complex formation. We have shown that a change in the polyelectrolyte charge, in response to lowered pH, compromises this electrostatic complementarity. As shown in Figure 1 , the dissociation event causes a change in the surface properties of the nanoassembly.   It has been proved (shown in Figure 2) that electrostatically bound polyelectrolyte enhances the encapsulation stability of the hydrophobic guest molecules inside the nanogel. Dissociating the polyelectrolyte from the nanogel and then subjecting it to a reducing condition causes the guest molecules to be released from the nanogel. 

Dual stimuli - dual response nanoassemblies prepared from a simple homopolymer

247th National Meeting (2014)

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