Highly selective uptake and release of charged molecules by pH-responsive polydopamine microcapsules

A systematic study of the permeation of small molecules through Pdop microcapsules is reported. The zwitterionic Pdop microcapsules are prepared by oxidative polymerization of dopamine on polystyrene microspheres followed by core removal with THF. Rhodamine 6G, methyl orange and alizarin red are chosen as differently charged probing dyes. The loading amount is affected by pH and dye concentration. Highly selective and unidirectional uptake and release of charged molecules through Pdop microcapsules can be achieved by controlling pH value: at low pH, the Pdop particles incorporate cationic dye (rhodamine 6G); at high pH, they incorporate anionic dyes (methyl orange and alizarin red). In each case, the uptake is highly selective.