3,3′-Diethoxypropyl methacrylate is a methacrylate monomer used in the synthesis of the pH-responsive polymer poly(3,3′-diethoxypropyl methacrylate) (PDEPMA). PDEPMA contains acetal groups, which upon exposure to acid in solution hydrolyze to form aldehyde groups that can be further reacted via chemical conjugation with biomolecules or other small molecules. Due to their responsive nature and well-controlled deprotection reactions, these materials have been used in a wide variety of biomedical applications such as surface patterning for sensors, the synthesis of polymer-biomolecule conjugates, and drug delivery applications.
