Temperature- and pH-sensitive core-shell nanoparticles self-assembled from poly(n-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid-co-cholesteryl acrylate) for intracellular delivery of anticancer drugs.

Temperature- and pH-sensitive amphiphilic polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid-co-cholesteryl acrylate) (P(NIPAAm-co-AA-co-CHA)) has been synthesized and employed to encapsulate paclitaxel, a highly hydrophobic anticancer drug, in core-shell nanoparticles fabricated by a membrane dialysis method. The nanoparticles are spherical in shape, and their size can be made below 200 nm by varying fabrication parameters. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the nanoparticles is pH-dependent.