phalloidine and pyranine

We present the self-assembly of redox-responsive polymer nanocontainers comprising a cyclodextrin vesicle core and a thin reductively cleavable polymer shell anchored via host-guest recognition on the vesicle surface. The nanocontainers are of uniform size, show high stability, and selectively respond to a mild reductive trigger as revealed by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, a quantitative thiol assay, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Live cell imaging experiments demonstrate a specific redox-responsive release and cytoplasmic delivery of encapsulated hydrophilic payloads, such as the pH-probe pyranine, and the fungal toxin phalloidin. Our results show the high potential of these stimulus-responsive nanocontainers for cell biological applications requiring a controlled delivery.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; Animals; Arylsulfonates; Cyclodextrins; Cytoplasm; Drug Carriers; Drug Delivery Systems; Mice; Molecular Structure; Nanoparticles; Oxidation-Reduction; Particle Size; Phalloidine; Polymers