ABSTRACT The complex bone tissue microenvironment poses a significant challenge to achieving therapeutic drug concentrations for osteoporosis therapy. Hence, a smart nanogel (DPA@SBMA 5 ‐ALN) was synthesized via emulsion polymerization using a pH‐responsive hydrophobic core of 2‐(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DPA) and a hydrophilic shell of sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), subsequently conjugated with alendronic acid (ALN) for bone‐specific targeting. In vitro cellular uptake assays demonstrated that ALN‐modified nanogels had a higher propensity for uptake by MC3T3‐E1 cells, revealing DPA@SBMA 5 ‐ALN nanogels could selectively target osteoblast‐like cells. A bone‐targeting test exhibited enhanced binding affinity to the femurs and tibias compared with nanogels without ALN modification. Moreover, histopathological analysis of major organs from treated mice indicated no significant toxicity, confirming preliminary biosafety. These findings indicate that DPA@SBMA 5 ‐ALN nanogels are a promising bone‐targeting carrier for delivery of antiresorptive drugs and have great potential for the treatment of other bone‐related diseases.
Ding et al. (Tue,) studied this question.