Smart materials that respond to an external trigger have potential applications such as in drug delivery. To realise their full potential in a biomedical context, these material–trigger systems must overcome challenges, such as selectivity and compatibility within a complex biological environment. Herein, we report the controlled release of drugs from nanostructures by a small molecule trigger, in the form of a biocompatible tetrazine that allows the selective “switch-on” of cytotoxicity resulting in an improved drug delivery system.<br/>Tetrazine was successfully used to modify polymers, under biocompatible conditions, by a highly efficient post-polymerization process based on an inverse electron demand Diels–Alder reaction. We report several nanostructures including vesicles and micelles formed by the self-assembled amphiphilic polymers PEG-<i>co</i>-PAGE and PEG-DOX, respectively. Release of cargos such as dyes and drugs was observed upon treatment with a tetrazine trigger, with doxorubicin containing nanoparticles demonstrating controlled “switch-on” of cytotoxicity in cell based assays.

Small molecule responsive nanostructures for controlled drug delivery

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.