BIOCOMPATIBLE POLYMERIC NANOPARTICLES DEGRADE AND RELEASE CARGO IN RESPONSE TO BIOLOGICALLY RELEVANT LEVELS OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

摘要

Disclosed are compositions and synthesis methods that pertain to biocompatible polymeric capsules capable of undergoing backbone degradation and cargo release upon exposure to biologically relevant concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (50-100 μM of H₂O₂). In the invention, bio-responsive polyester bearing boronic ester triggers groups that degrade upon exposure to low concentrations of H₂O₂. The degradation is induced by transformation of a boronic ester to a phenol, which undergoes a quinone methide rearrangement to break down the polyester backbone.