Interface-targeted drug release driven by photoresponsive polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Photoresponsive surfactants enable controlled drug release.
• Aqueous-hydrophobic interfaces are relevant models for drug delivery.
• Polyelectrolytes can modify nanocarrier properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate poly-l-lysine (PLL) effects on arylazopyrazole (AAP) nanocarrier drug release.
• To optimize PLL concentration for enhanced doxorubicin (Dox) release to interfaces.
• To understand the mechanism of PLL-mediated drug release enhancement.

Main Methods:

• Formation of surfactant-polyelectrolyte complexes (PLL/AAP).
• Electrophoretic mobility and size measurements of complexes.
• Vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy of interfaces.

Main Results:

• PLL/AAP complexes show tunable net charge and colloidal stability.
• Optimal PLL concentration (ratio 0.5) significantly enhances Dox release to the interface.
• Dox release to the interface is accelerated by approximately 6-fold compared to AAP micelles alone.

Conclusions:

• PLL/AAP complexes offer enhanced control over light-induced drug release.
• Stable PLL/AAP complexes minimize surfactant competition, improving Dox adsorption.
• This approach shows promise for targeted chemotherapy delivery systems.