[{"abstract":[{"text":"To address the challenges associated with poor drug solubility and uncontrolled drug release in conventional dosage forms, a combination of polymer design and advanced drug delivery approaches has been employed. The development of pH-responsive nanoparticles for controlled and selective drug release represents a notable advance in adaptive nanomedicine. This study explores the design of a pH-responsive polymer, poly(1,4-phenyleneacetone dimethylene ketal) (PPADK). Additionally, the incorporation of light-responsive ortho-nitrobenzyl groups (o-NB-PPADK) enhanced the degradation upon exposure to light. Based on the polymer, nanoparticles were prepared using the solvent displacement method. The fluorescence dye Lumogen® Red was incorporated as a model substance. The nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering to determine their hydrodynamic diameter and size distribution, and the surface charge was analyzed. Atomic force microscopy was used to visualize the surface morphology. The nanoparticles remained stable under physiological pH conditions while exhibiting accelerated degradation and substance release in acidic environment, a property potentially exploitable for tumor targeting. Further enhanced degradation and correspondingly increased release was achieved by incorporating light-responsive elements in the polymer structure.\r\nThe cytotoxicity of these newly designed nanoparticles was evaluated in cell culture using a breast cancer cell line. These results support the potential of o-NB-PPADK nanoparticles as a possible candidate for selective and effective cancer therapy, combining stimuli-responsive degradation mechanisms for improved therapeutic outcomes.","lang":"eng"}],"publication":"International Journal of Pharmaceutics","type":"journal_article","keyword":["Nanoparticles","Drug delivery","Controlled release","Stimuli-responsiveTumor targeting"],"department":[{"_id":"163"}],"date_created":"2026-03-11T08:46:17Z","date_updated":"2026-03-11T08:52:22Z","publication_status":"published","intvolume":"       684","article_type":"original","year":"2025","title":"Enlightening release strategies: Accelerated nanoparticle degradation and substance release utilizing light- and pH-responsive polymers","publication_identifier":{"issn":["0378-5173"]},"author":[{"last_name":"Kramer","first_name":"Maurice","full_name":"Kramer, Maurice"},{"full_name":"van der Linde, Matthias","last_name":"van der Linde","first_name":"Matthias"},{"full_name":"Hönscheid, Lisa","first_name":"Lisa","last_name":"Hönscheid"},{"last_name":"Horky","first_name":"Corinna","full_name":"Horky, Corinna"},{"full_name":"Völlmecke, Katharina","last_name":"Völlmecke","first_name":"Katharina"},{"full_name":"Mulac, Dennis","first_name":"Dennis","last_name":"Mulac"},{"last_name":"Herrmann","first_name":"Fabian","full_name":"Herrmann, Fabian"},{"first_name":"Dirk","last_name":"Kuckling","full_name":"Kuckling, Dirk","id":"287"},{"last_name":"Langer","first_name":"Klaus","full_name":"Langer, Klaus"}],"doi":"10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127","main_file_link":[{"url":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517325009640?via%3Dihub"}],"article_number":"126127","language":[{"iso":"eng"}],"citation":{"mla":"Kramer, Maurice, et al. “Enlightening Release Strategies: Accelerated Nanoparticle Degradation and Substance Release Utilizing Light- and PH-Responsive Polymers.” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, vol. 684, 126127, Elsevier BV, 2025, doi:<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127</a>.","ama":"Kramer M, van der Linde M, Hönscheid L, et al. Enlightening release strategies: Accelerated nanoparticle degradation and substance release utilizing light- and pH-responsive polymers. <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>. 2025;684. doi:<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127</a>","bibtex":"@article{Kramer_van der Linde_Hönscheid_Horky_Völlmecke_Mulac_Herrmann_Kuckling_Langer_2025, title={Enlightening release strategies: Accelerated nanoparticle degradation and substance release utilizing light- and pH-responsive polymers}, volume={684}, DOI={<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127</a>}, number={126127}, journal={International Journal of Pharmaceutics}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Kramer, Maurice and van der Linde, Matthias and Hönscheid, Lisa and Horky, Corinna and Völlmecke, Katharina and Mulac, Dennis and Herrmann, Fabian and Kuckling, Dirk and Langer, Klaus}, year={2025} }","apa":"Kramer, M., van der Linde, M., Hönscheid, L., Horky, C., Völlmecke, K., Mulac, D., Herrmann, F., Kuckling, D., &#38; Langer, K. (2025). Enlightening release strategies: Accelerated nanoparticle degradation and substance release utilizing light- and pH-responsive polymers. <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, <i>684</i>, Article 126127. <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127\">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127</a>","ieee":"M. Kramer <i>et al.</i>, “Enlightening release strategies: Accelerated nanoparticle degradation and substance release utilizing light- and pH-responsive polymers,” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, vol. 684, Art. no. 126127, 2025, doi: <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127</a>.","chicago":"Kramer, Maurice, Matthias van der Linde, Lisa Hönscheid, Corinna Horky, Katharina Völlmecke, Dennis Mulac, Fabian Herrmann, Dirk Kuckling, and Klaus Langer. “Enlightening Release Strategies: Accelerated Nanoparticle Degradation and Substance Release Utilizing Light- and PH-Responsive Polymers.” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i> 684 (2025). <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127\">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2025.126127</a>.","short":"M. Kramer, M. van der Linde, L. Hönscheid, C. Horky, K. Völlmecke, D. Mulac, F. Herrmann, D. Kuckling, K. Langer, International Journal of Pharmaceutics 684 (2025)."},"status":"public","user_id":"94","volume":684,"_id":"64884","publisher":"Elsevier BV"},{"article_number":"120326","language":[{"iso":"eng"}],"_id":"23701","publisher":"Elsevier","user_id":"94","doi":"10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326","volume":597,"year":"2021","status":"public","title":"Light-responsive polymeric nanoparticles based on a novel nitropiperonal based polyester as drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT","author":[{"first_name":"Timo","last_name":"Schoppa","full_name":"Schoppa, Timo"},{"last_name":"Jung","first_name":"Dimitri","full_name":"Jung, Dimitri"},{"first_name":"Tarik","last_name":"Rust","full_name":"Rust, Tarik"},{"full_name":"Mulac, Dennis","last_name":"Mulac","first_name":"Dennis"},{"id":"287","full_name":"Kuckling, Dirk","last_name":"Kuckling","first_name":"Dirk"},{"full_name":"Langer, Klaus","last_name":"Langer","first_name":"Klaus"}],"publication_identifier":{"issn":["0378-5173"]},"publication_status":"published","date_updated":"2022-07-28T09:57:44Z","intvolume":"       597","date_created":"2021-09-02T12:48:00Z","type":"journal_article","department":[{"_id":"311"}],"publication":"International Journal of Pharmaceutics","citation":{"short":"T. Schoppa, D. Jung, T. Rust, D. Mulac, D. Kuckling, K. Langer, International Journal of Pharmaceutics 597 (2021).","chicago":"Schoppa, Timo, Dimitri Jung, Tarik Rust, Dennis Mulac, Dirk Kuckling, and Klaus Langer. “Light-Responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles Based on a Novel Nitropiperonal Based Polyester as Drug Delivery Systems for Photosensitizers in PDT.” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i> 597 (2021). <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326\">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326</a>.","apa":"Schoppa, T., Jung, D., Rust, T., Mulac, D., Kuckling, D., &#38; Langer, K. (2021). Light-responsive polymeric nanoparticles based on a novel nitropiperonal based polyester as drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT. <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, <i>597</i>, Article 120326. <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326\">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326</a>","ieee":"T. Schoppa, D. Jung, T. Rust, D. Mulac, D. Kuckling, and K. Langer, “Light-responsive polymeric nanoparticles based on a novel nitropiperonal based polyester as drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT,” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, vol. 597, Art. no. 120326, 2021, doi: <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326</a>.","ama":"Schoppa T, Jung D, Rust T, Mulac D, Kuckling D, Langer K. Light-responsive polymeric nanoparticles based on a novel nitropiperonal based polyester as drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT. <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>. 2021;597. doi:<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326</a>","bibtex":"@article{Schoppa_Jung_Rust_Mulac_Kuckling_Langer_2021, title={Light-responsive polymeric nanoparticles based on a novel nitropiperonal based polyester as drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT}, volume={597}, DOI={<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326</a>}, number={120326}, journal={International Journal of Pharmaceutics}, publisher={Elsevier}, author={Schoppa, Timo and Jung, Dimitri and Rust, Tarik and Mulac, Dennis and Kuckling, Dirk and Langer, Klaus}, year={2021} }","mla":"Schoppa, Timo, et al. “Light-Responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles Based on a Novel Nitropiperonal Based Polyester as Drug Delivery Systems for Photosensitizers in PDT.” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, vol. 597, 120326, Elsevier, 2021, doi:<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120326</a>."}},{"publication_status":"published","date_updated":"2022-04-21T09:13:07Z","intvolume":"       565","year":"2019","title":"In vitro evaluation of innovative light-responsive nanoparticles for controlled drug release in intestinal PDT","author":[{"full_name":"Mahlert, Laura","first_name":"Laura","last_name":"Mahlert"},{"full_name":"Anderski, Juliane","first_name":"Juliane","last_name":"Anderski"},{"first_name":"Timo","last_name":"Schoppa","full_name":"Schoppa, Timo"},{"full_name":"Mulac, Dennis","last_name":"Mulac","first_name":"Dennis"},{"full_name":"Sun, Jingjiang","first_name":"Jingjiang","last_name":"Sun"},{"full_name":"Kuckling, Dirk","last_name":"Kuckling","first_name":"Dirk","id":"287"},{"first_name":"Klaus","last_name":"Langer","full_name":"Langer, Klaus"}],"publication_identifier":{"issn":["0378-5173"]},"doi":"10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077","language":[{"iso":"eng"}],"publication":"International Journal of Pharmaceutics","keyword":["Light-responsive polymersPhotodynamic therapyControlled drug deliveryHT-29-MTX cellsIntestinal cancer"],"type":"journal_article","department":[{"_id":"311"}],"date_created":"2022-04-21T09:12:07Z","status":"public","user_id":"94","volume":565,"page":"199-208","_id":"30934","publisher":"Elsevier BV","citation":{"mla":"Mahlert, Laura, et al. “In Vitro Evaluation of Innovative Light-Responsive Nanoparticles for Controlled Drug Release in Intestinal PDT.” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, vol. 565, Elsevier BV, 2019, pp. 199–208, doi:<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077</a>.","ama":"Mahlert L, Anderski J, Schoppa T, et al. In vitro evaluation of innovative light-responsive nanoparticles for controlled drug release in intestinal PDT. <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>. 2019;565:199-208. doi:<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077</a>","bibtex":"@article{Mahlert_Anderski_Schoppa_Mulac_Sun_Kuckling_Langer_2019, title={In vitro evaluation of innovative light-responsive nanoparticles for controlled drug release in intestinal PDT}, volume={565}, DOI={<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077</a>}, journal={International Journal of Pharmaceutics}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Mahlert, Laura and Anderski, Juliane and Schoppa, Timo and Mulac, Dennis and Sun, Jingjiang and Kuckling, Dirk and Langer, Klaus}, year={2019}, pages={199–208} }","apa":"Mahlert, L., Anderski, J., Schoppa, T., Mulac, D., Sun, J., Kuckling, D., &#38; Langer, K. (2019). In vitro evaluation of innovative light-responsive nanoparticles for controlled drug release in intestinal PDT. <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, <i>565</i>, 199–208. <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077\">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077</a>","ieee":"L. Mahlert <i>et al.</i>, “In vitro evaluation of innovative light-responsive nanoparticles for controlled drug release in intestinal PDT,” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, vol. 565, pp. 199–208, 2019, doi: <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077</a>.","short":"L. Mahlert, J. Anderski, T. Schoppa, D. Mulac, J. Sun, D. Kuckling, K. Langer, International Journal of Pharmaceutics 565 (2019) 199–208.","chicago":"Mahlert, Laura, Juliane Anderski, Timo Schoppa, Dennis Mulac, Jingjiang Sun, Dirk Kuckling, and Klaus Langer. “In Vitro Evaluation of Innovative Light-Responsive Nanoparticles for Controlled Drug Release in Intestinal PDT.” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i> 565 (2019): 199–208. <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077\">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.04.077</a>."}},{"date_created":"2022-04-21T09:13:47Z","department":[{"_id":"311"}],"type":"journal_article","keyword":["NanoparticlesLight-responsive polymersPhotodynamic therapyPoly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)Intestinal cancer"],"publication":"International Journal of Pharmaceutics","language":[{"iso":"eng"}],"doi":"10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040","publication_identifier":{"issn":["0378-5173"]},"author":[{"full_name":"Anderski, Juliane","first_name":"Juliane","last_name":"Anderski"},{"full_name":"Mahlert, Laura","last_name":"Mahlert","first_name":"Laura"},{"first_name":"Jingjiang","last_name":"Sun","full_name":"Sun, Jingjiang"},{"last_name":"Birnbaum","first_name":"Wolfgang","full_name":"Birnbaum, Wolfgang"},{"first_name":"Dennis","last_name":"Mulac","full_name":"Mulac, Dennis"},{"full_name":"Schreiber, Sebastian","last_name":"Schreiber","first_name":"Sebastian"},{"first_name":"Fabian","last_name":"Herrmann","full_name":"Herrmann, Fabian"},{"id":"287","full_name":"Kuckling, Dirk","last_name":"Kuckling","first_name":"Dirk"},{"first_name":"Klaus","last_name":"Langer","full_name":"Langer, Klaus"}],"title":"Light-responsive nanoparticles based on new polycarbonate polymers as innovative drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT","year":"2018","intvolume":"       557","publication_status":"published","date_updated":"2022-04-21T09:14:49Z","citation":{"mla":"Anderski, Juliane, et al. “Light-Responsive Nanoparticles Based on New Polycarbonate Polymers as Innovative Drug Delivery Systems for Photosensitizers in PDT.” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, vol. 557, Elsevier BV, 2018, pp. 182–91, doi:<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040</a>.","apa":"Anderski, J., Mahlert, L., Sun, J., Birnbaum, W., Mulac, D., Schreiber, S., Herrmann, F., Kuckling, D., &#38; Langer, K. (2018). Light-responsive nanoparticles based on new polycarbonate polymers as innovative drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT. <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, <i>557</i>, 182–191. <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040\">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040</a>","ieee":"J. Anderski <i>et al.</i>, “Light-responsive nanoparticles based on new polycarbonate polymers as innovative drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT,” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>, vol. 557, pp. 182–191, 2018, doi: <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040</a>.","short":"J. Anderski, L. Mahlert, J. Sun, W. Birnbaum, D. Mulac, S. Schreiber, F. Herrmann, D. Kuckling, K. Langer, International Journal of Pharmaceutics 557 (2018) 182–191.","ama":"Anderski J, Mahlert L, Sun J, et al. Light-responsive nanoparticles based on new polycarbonate polymers as innovative drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT. <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i>. 2018;557:182-191. doi:<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040</a>","chicago":"Anderski, Juliane, Laura Mahlert, Jingjiang Sun, Wolfgang Birnbaum, Dennis Mulac, Sebastian Schreiber, Fabian Herrmann, Dirk Kuckling, and Klaus Langer. “Light-Responsive Nanoparticles Based on New Polycarbonate Polymers as Innovative Drug Delivery Systems for Photosensitizers in PDT.” <i>International Journal of Pharmaceutics</i> 557 (2018): 182–91. <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040\">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040</a>.","bibtex":"@article{Anderski_Mahlert_Sun_Birnbaum_Mulac_Schreiber_Herrmann_Kuckling_Langer_2018, title={Light-responsive nanoparticles based on new polycarbonate polymers as innovative drug delivery systems for photosensitizers in PDT}, volume={557}, DOI={<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040\">10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.12.040</a>}, journal={International Journal of Pharmaceutics}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Anderski, Juliane and Mahlert, Laura and Sun, Jingjiang and Birnbaum, Wolfgang and Mulac, Dennis and Schreiber, Sebastian and Herrmann, Fabian and Kuckling, Dirk and Langer, Klaus}, year={2018}, pages={182–191} }"},"_id":"30935","publisher":"Elsevier BV","page":"182-191","volume":557,"user_id":"94","status":"public"}]