Tumor-homotypic reduction-responsive polypeptide nanogels for prostate cancer chemotherapy

Sucrose microgels were synthesized by using divinyl sulfone as crosslinker with a high yield, almost 100%. Sucrose microgels in the size range of 0.5–20 μm as revealed by SEM images were obtained. The prepared sucrose microgels were chemically modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI) that contain branched amine functional groups. Then, these modified (M-) Sucrose microgel were protonated with HCl to render further positive charges to enable anion exchange reaction with sodium dicyanamide (SDC), ammonium hexafluorophosphate (AHFP), sodium tetrafluoroborate (STFB) to generate ionic liquid colloid (ILC). IL in colloidal form can enable the advantages of natural polymeric colloids and IL. Upon modification, the negatively charged sucrose microgels with zeta potential (ZP) value of −30.2 ± 2 mV was increased to +30.1 ± 2 mV, and the ILC forms of Sucrose microgels were also measured as highly positively charged particles with about ZP value of +35 mV. The characterization of the ILC Sucrose microgels were evaluated by employing various techniques such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and zeta potential measurements. Interestingly, quaternized (Q-) and ILC forms of Sucrose microgels were found very effective antibacterial agents against Eschericia coli ATCC 8739 (gram negative) and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 (gram positive) microorganisms owing to their cationic nature. Furthermore, Sucrose based microgels demonstrated good blood compatibility with the exception of Q-Sucrose microgels with slight hemolysis ratio and highly blood clotting index. It was also revealed that SDC-Sucrose ILC microgels can be used in adsorbent material with high amount of protein absorbing capabilities e.g., 22.3 ± 6.2 lysozyme and 22.1 ± 1.1 mg/g bovine serum albumin (BSA) in PBS at pH 7.4.