Payload release by liposome burst: Thermal collapse of microgels induces satellite destruction

Abstract

We present a smart liposome carrier system for stimulated release, consisting of cationic, thermo-responsive microgels. At low temperature, the swollen microgels adsorb about 200 anionic liposomes, 50 nm in diameter, per microgel. When heated from 39 °C to 41 °C, the microgel–liposome complex particles collapse from approx. 370 nm down to approx. 270 nm. Upon the thermo-induced collapse, the adsorbed liposome satellite layer is squeezed until the initially spherical liposomes explode and release their payload (antitumor drug doxorubicin) into the surrounding. This burst release mechanism, taking place over a narrow temperature range, is newly reported and of possible biomedical importance.