Dual UV- and pH-Responsive Supramolecular Vesicles Mediated by Host-Guest Interactions for Drug Controlled Release

Abstract

To control the release of the drugs at specific time and location, dual UV- and pH-responsive supramolecular vesicles are described mediated by host–guest interactions. The hydrophobic segment β-CD-Azo-Ace (where β-CD, Azo, and Ace refer to β-cyclodextrin, azobenzene, and acetal, respectively) forms the inclusion with α-CD and the inclusion further self-assembles to form supramolecular vesicles in aqueous medium. The nanospherical supramolecular vesicles are ≈50 nm and high-efficiently load the drugs. Furthermore, supramolecular vesicles are dual UV- and pH-responsive, thus release the drugs at specific time (stimulated by UV) and location (stimulated by pH), which will have significant advantages for cancer treatment.