Issue 8, 2015

Supramolecular hydrogel microcapsules via cucurbit[8]uril host–guest interactions with triggered and UV-controlled molecular permeability

Abstract

Host–guest assembly in droplet-based microfluidics opens a new avenue for fabricating supramolecular hydrogel microcapsules with high monodispersity and controlled functionality. In this paper, we demonstrate a single emulsion microdroplet platform to prepare microcapsules with supramolecular hydrogel skins from host molecule cucurbit[8]uril and guest polymer anthracene-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose. In contrast to construction of microcapsules from a droplet-in-droplet double emulsion, here the electrostatic attraction between charged polymer and surfactant facilitates formation of defined supramolecular hydrogel skins in a single emulsion. Furthermore, by taking advantage of dynamic interactions and the tunable cross-linked supramolecular hydrogel network, it is possible to prepare microcapsules with triggered and UV-controlled molecular permeability. These could be potentially used in a delivery system for e.g. agrochemicals, nutraceuticals or cosmetics.

Graphical abstract: Supramolecular hydrogel microcapsules via cucurbit[8]uril host–guest interactions with triggered and UV-controlled molecular permeability

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
21 Apr 2015
Accepted
08 Jun 2015
First published
11 Jun 2015
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2015,6, 4929-4933

Supramolecular hydrogel microcapsules via cucurbit[8]uril host–guest interactions with triggered and UV-controlled molecular permeability

Z. Yu, J. Zhang, R. J. Coulston, R. M. Parker, F. Biedermann, X. Liu, O. A. Scherman and C. Abell, Chem. Sci., 2015, 6, 4929 DOI: 10.1039/C5SC01440A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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