Tunable release platform highlighted in Chemistry & Industry

Chemistry and Industry Highlight: Delivery platform with post-production tunable release rate

Self-assembly of three molecular components results in a delivery platform, the release rate of which can be tuned after its production (J. Boekhoven, M. Koot , T. A. Wezendonk, R. Eelkema, J. H. van Esch; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134, 12908) (Scheme 2). A fluorophore-conjugated gelator can be hydrolysed by an enzyme, resulting in the release of a fluorescent small molecule. To allow the release to be tunable, the enzyme is entrapped in liposomes and can be liberated by heating the system for a short period. Crucially, the heating time determines the amount of enzyme liberated; with that, the release rate can be tuned by the time of heating.

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