Redox and pH Dual-Responsive Supramolecular Micelles with a Traditional Polymer Block and a Supramolecular Block for Drug Controlled Release

Redox and pH dual-responsive supramolecular micelles are prepared through a traditional polymer block and a supramolecular block to completely release the drugs. Ferrocene-introduced and hydrophobic-modified beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD-Fc-Ace, where beta-CD, Fc, and Ace refer to beta-cyclodextrin, ferrocene, and acetal, respectively) is used to build the supramolecular block. Adamantane-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (mPEG-Ada) is the traditional polymer block. The average diameter of supramolecular micelles is approximate to 100 nm. Supramolecular micelles are able to control the release of the drugs in the cancer cells due to pH and redox microenvironments.