Star Polyelectrolytes Based Microcapsules with Multi-Responsiveness to Ionic Strength, pH and Temperature

摘要

Stimuli-responsive polymeric structures have attracted much attention in recent years due to their diverse range of potential applications. 1 Among these different materials, responsive microcapsules have their unique and superior properties, such as easy fabrication, high stability, high loading capacity, and controlled release of cargo molecules. During the past decade, layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly has emerged to be an important tool to fabricate microcapsules because of its many advantages, such as high versatility, uniformity, broad choice of materials, and facile incorporation of multiple functionalities. 2 LbL microcapsules and shells with stimuli-responsive properties have been studied intensively in recent years due to their emerging applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, implantation, coatings, and biosensors. Traditional stimuli used to modulate the structure and properties of LbL microcapsules include pH and ionic strength. Other environmental stimuli such as light, magnetic or electric fields, chemical stimuli, ultrasound and temperature are also highly attractive.