文摘
We report a novel approach for the controlled delivery of an antiinflammatory, chemopreventivedrug by an enzyme-triggered drug release mechanism via the degradation of encapsulated hydrogels.The hydro- and organogelators are synthesized in high yields from renewable resources by usingregioselective enzyme catalysis, and a known chemopreventive and antiinflammatory drug, i.e., curcumin,is used for the model study. The release of the drug occurred at physiological temperature, and control ofthe drug release rate is achieved by manipulating the enzyme concentration and/or temperature. Thebyproducts formed after the gel degradation were characterized and clearly demonstrated the site specificityof degradation of the gelator by enzyme catalysis. The present approach could have applications indeveloping cost-effective controlled drug delivery vehicles from renewable resources, with a potential impacton pharmaceutical research and molecular design and delivery strategies.