Abstract
Abstract Dual-responsive microcarriers with sphere-in-capsule structures are developed for controllable co-encapsulation and stimuli-triggered sequential release of multiple distinct contents. Monodisperse quadruple emulsions generated from microfluidics are used as templates for synthesizing the dual-responsive microcarriers. Each of the microcarriers consists of a multicore-containing chitosan microsphere loaded in the inner oil core of a thermo-responsive PNIPAM microcapsule. The inner oil core of the PNIPAM microcapsule and the multiple innermost oil cores in the chitosan microsphere can serve as separate compartments for loading distinct hydrophobic contents; while the crosslinked matrix of the hydrophilic chitosan microsphere can be used for loading hydrophilic contents. Based on the hierarchical multicompartmental structures, the microcarriers can sequentially release their multiple loaded contents in a well-defined order by using different triggering mechanisms. This can achieve first thermo-triggered burst release of the contents and chitosan microsphere in the inner oil core, and then acid-triggered burst release of the contents in the matrix of the chitosan microsphere, and the innermost oil cores. The dual-responsive microcarriers show great potential as drug delivery systems and confined microreactors for biomedical applications.
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