Premium
Redox‐Sensitive Stomatocyte Nanomotors: Destruction and Drug Release in the Presence of Glutathione
Author(s) -
Tu Yingfeng,
Peng Fei,
White Paul B.,
Wilson Daniela A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201703276
Subject(s) - glutathione , redox , chemistry , ethylene glycol , biophysics , drug delivery , reducing agent , peg ratio , combinatorial chemistry , drug , biochemistry , enzyme , pharmacology , organic chemistry , medicine , finance , economics , biology
The development of artificial nanomotor systems that are stimuli‐responsive is still posing many challenges. Herein, we demonstrate the self‐assembly of a redox‐responsive stomatocyte nanomotor system, which can be used for triggered drug release under biological reducing conditions. The redox sensitivity was introduced by incorporating a disulfide bridge between the hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) block and the hydrophobic polystyrene block. When incubated with the endogenous reducing agent glutathione at a concentration comparable to that within cells, the external PEG shells of these stimuli‐responsive nanomotors are cleaved. The specific bowl‐shaped stomatocytes aggregate after the treatment with glutathione, leading to the loss of motion and triggered drug release. These novel redox‐responsive nanomotors can not only be used for remote transport but also for drug delivery, which is promising for future biomedical applications.