NSRRC Activity Report 2022

Soft Matter 041 protective role. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) evaluates the weight loss of a substance at a certain temperature and can analyze the composition, percentage, or reaction of the compound ( Fig. 3(a) ). The interaction of MIO nanoparticles with PF127/ bPEI polymer may lead to different microstructures. TGA results elucidated the thermal stability and proved the successful drug loading of MIOpoly nanocarriers. The surface modification of MIOs with polymers form spherical core-corona micelles in aqueous solution as evidenced using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) from TAIKAN at J-PARC. Further, a distinctive increase in the scattering intensity in relation to the temperature was observed. At high Q (> 0.1 Å –1 ), the SANS intensity of the MIOpoly nanocarriers remained unchanged at different temperatures. An increase in the structural arrangement of the nanoparticles was observed when the temperature was increased from 25 to 37°C. In contrast, upon increasing the temperature from 37 to 55°C, an insignificant increase in the structural arrangement was observed because the structure of the nanocarriers had reached their maximum capacity ( Figs. 3(b) and 3(c) ). Increasing temperature from 25 to 37°C and 55°C influenced the expansion of the core radius (R c ) and the agglomeration number (N agg ). The enlargement of the core radius (R c ) propels the shrinkage in the hard sphere radius of hydrophilic PF127 when temperatures increased from 25 to 57°C, suggesting the elimination of water from the corona region. This may be a result of the collapsed structure of the PF127 polymer. The team also examined drug release kinetics and cellular uptake efficiency. The Korsmeyer–Peppas and Weibull models displayed the best fit at low pH (pH 5.4) and high temperature (42 o C) respectively, which suggests that the drug delivery system is pH and temperature dependent. In summary, DOX-encapsulated pH-/thermo-responsive nanocarriers were successfully synthesized and characterized for their drug loading, release, and cellular uptake. (Reported by Kuen-Song Lin, Yuan Ze University) This report features the work of Kuen-Song Lin and his collaborators published in the Colloids Surf. B 209 , 112168 (2022). TLS 17C1 EXAFS J-PARC TAIKAN – Small and Wide Angle Neutron Scattering • SANS, XANES/EXAFS • Materials Science, Chemistry, Surface, Interface and Thin-film Chemistry, Condensed-Matter Physics References 1. N. V. Mdlovu, K. S. Lin, M. T. Weng, Y. S. Lin, S. Y. Liu, Colloids Surf. B 209 , 112168 (2022) . 2. N. V. Mdlovu, Y. Chen, K.-S. Lin, M.-W. Hsu, S. S. S. Wang, C. M. Wu, Y. S. Lin, K. Ohishi. J. Taiwan Inst. Chem. E. 96 , 526 (2019). 3. N. V. Mdlovu, K. S. Lin, M. T. Weng, C. C. Hsieh, Y. S. Lin, M. J. C. Espinoza, J. Ind. Eng. Chem. 102 , 1 (2021). Fig. 3 : (a) TGA analysis obtained from of MIOpoly nanocomposites and MIOpoly-DOX complex. SANS spectra of MIOpoly-3 (b) at different temperatures; (c) after DOX loading (37°C); and (d) before and after DOX loading at 37°C. [Reproduced from Ref. 1]