Swelling and diffusion of PNIPA-based gels for localized chemotherapy and hyperthermia

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the swelling and diffusion of poly(N-iso-propyl-acrylamide) PNIPA-based gels with the potential for applications in bio-micro-electro-mechanical systems (BioMEMS) for localized cancer treatment that involves both chemotherapy and hyperthermia. The swelling due to the uptake of water, rhodamine dye and the cancer drug, paclitaxel, are studied using weight gain experiments that are conducted over a range of temperatures in which hyperthermia can occur during drug delivery. The release of rhodamine dye and paclitaxel is also elucidated by considering their diffusion through the gels. The underlying mechanisms of diffusion and swelling are discussed over a temperature range in which synergistic cancer treatment can be effected by the combined use of hyperthermia and chemotherapy.