Differentially Degradable Janus Particles for Controlled Release Applications

Abstract Janus particles with differentially degradable compartments were prepared by electrohydrodynamic (EHD) co‐jetting and subsequent controlled crosslinking. These bicompartmental particles are composed of an interpenetrating polymer network of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) in one hemisphere and a crosslinked copolymer of dextran and poly(acrylamide‐co‐acrylic acid) segments in the second compartment. The compositional anisotropy caused differential hydrolytic susceptibility: Although both compartments were stable at pH 3.0, selective degradation of the PEO‐containing compartment pH 7.4 was observed wtihin 5 days. Janus particles with differentially degradable polymer compartments may be of interest for a range of oral drug delivery applications because of their propensity for decoupled release profiles.