Dynamically and Reversibly pH-Repsonsive Poly(amine) Capsules

Microcapsules featuring an aqueous core and a shell responsive to stimuli hold appeal as delivery vehicles for loading and unloading cargo in drug delivery systems. In complex scenarios, there is a growing demand for intelligent capsules capable of adapting to environmental changes dynamically. However, there remains a dearth of dynamic capsules tailored for drug delivery in acidic environments. This study presents a new approach to designing dynamic capsule shells using crosslinked poly(amine) to achieve pH-responsive hydrogel microcapsules that can reversibly swell and shrink. The poly(amine) hydrogel capsules demonstrate dynamic behavior, including changes in shell network mesh size upon pH shifts, enabling cyclic capture, trapping, and release of cargo. These newly designed poly(amine) capsules enhance the diversity of smart capsule options and expand their potential applications.