University Chemistry ›› 2023, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (12): 212-219.doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202304094

• Chemistry Laboratory • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Construction and Characterization of Intelligent, Controlled Drug Release Visualization Systems: A New Design and Teaching Practice of Polymer Experiments

Laiying Zhang(), Hongyu Gou, Haini Zhuang, Yuhang Qin, Huijuan Qiu, Weitai Wu()   

  • Received:2023-04-26 Accepted:2023-06-21 Published:2023-06-29
  • Contact: Laiying Zhang, Weitai Wu E-mail:wuzhly@xmu.edu.cn;wuwtxmu@xmu.edu.cn

Abstract:

This study presents a new experimental design and teaching practice for polymer chemistry, physical chemistry, and instrument analysis. Here, a type of thermosensitive polymer microgel was synthesized in an aqueous solution by free radical precipitation polymerization. The thermo-responsivity of these microgels was assessed using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer and dynamic light scattering instrument. These microgels were then utilized as carriers to construct a controlled drug delivery system, in which the drug was uploaded to the microgels in the swollen state and released from the microgels in the collapsed state. To understand the drug release process, a combination of color theory and chemical knowledge was proposed, in which the drug with visible range absorption was selected to "visualize" the drug release process, making it more intuitive and observable. Based on this perceptual understanding, the molecular diffusion mechanism of the drug release process was analyzed rationally. This experiment was based on cutting-edge green research results that have been widely investigated and verified. Moreover, this experiment, which can be extended to other responsive polymers and drugs, has universal applicability. This experiment can not only exercise basic operational ability but also help develop research skills for identifying and solving problems and improve students' innovation ability.

Key words: Thermo-sensitive microgels, Free radical precipitation polymerization, Controlled drug release system, Visual detection, Experimental teaching