Programmable Fabrics of Enzyme-Responsive Amphiphiles: A Multiscale Platform for Hierarchical Mesophase...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Dynamic materials with hierarchical control over phase transitions are emerging.
• Enzyme-responsive polymers offer tunable degradation and material properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize an electrospun polymeric fabric capable of a controlled cascade of mesophase transitions.
• To investigate the material's potential for tunable dissolution and controlled release of encapsulated agents.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of electrospun polymeric fabric from enzyme-responsive di- and triblock copolymers.
• Induction of mesophase transitions via immersion in water and enzymatic degradation.
• Analysis of material transformations from macroscale fabric to nanoscale micelles, hydrogels, and molecular dissolution.
• Tuning dissolution rates by adjusting copolymer ratios.

Main Results:

• The fabric undergoes a hierarchical cascade of four distinct mesophases: macroscale dissolution to nanoscale micelles, transition to a triblock-based hydrogel, and final molecular dissolution.
• Dissolution rates are tunable by adjusting di- and triblock copolymer ratios.
• Hydrophobic agents can be encapsulated and released in a controlled manner from micelle and hydrogel phases.

Conclusions:

• The developed electrospun fabric demonstrates sophisticated hierarchical control over mesophase transitions.
• This programmable material offers new opportunities for advanced biomedical applications, including drug delivery and tissue engineering.
• The ability to precisely control material dissolution and agent release highlights the potential of enzyme-responsive dynamic materials.