Stimulus-Responsive Release from Poly(ferrocenylsilane) Nanocontainers

Abstract

Redox-responsive poly(ferrocenylsilane) (PFS) is used to construct nanocontainers that can be loaded with hydrophobic cargo by a miniemulsion approach. The resulting structures comprise a solid shell surrounding a liquid oil core and have diameters of approximately 470 nm with a shell thickness of ca. 29 nm. The electrochemical behavior of the ferrocene group is investigated using cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical oxidation and the thereby caused change of container morphology are shown. Hydrophobic molecules (Nile Red and 2-propylpyiridine) are loaded into the nanocontainers and can be released upon oxidation of the shell material. The oxidation is achieved chemically by the addition of hydrogen peroxide or by the enzymatic oxidation of glucose to release 2-propylpyridine over a period of time.