Site-specific release-on-demand refers to the process in which an appropriate amount of active components is released only if it is required, when and where it is required. This ensures high efficiency of the drug therapy or biochemical stimulation. Unique type of responsive polymers is polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM). It offers the ability to design the material composition for a variety of stimulus-responsive properties (light, temperature, solvent, pH); to incorporate or encapsulate active components;  and provide protection from aggressive environment. Herein, we report a method to produce PEM film with an array of protruding chambers by layer-by-layer self-assembly of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes on the pre-patterned surface of a sacrificial substrate followed by its dissolution. Depending on the choice of polyelectrolyte and the loading method, a variety of components were encapsulated into the chambers, for example: microdroplets of oil-based solutions containing drugs; water-soluble macromolecules (e.g proteins, growth factors, and other bioactive molecules); colloidal particles. The time- and site- specific release of that cargo from each individual chamber was realized by its addressing with micro-tip or focused laser beam. Suggested universal platform could be utilized for targeted delivery of drugs, flavours as well as site-specific release of protein cocktails for biochemical studies.

Light induced individually addressable composite microchambers for site-specific release-on-demand

241st National Meeting (2011)

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