Triggered Cargo Release by Encapsulated Enzymatic Catalysis in Capsosomes

Abstract

We report the coencapsulation of glutathione reductase and disulfide-linked polymer-oligopeptide conjugates into capsosomes, polymer carrier capsules containing liposomal subcompartments. The architecture of the capsosomes enables a temperature-triggered conversion of oxidized glutathione to its reduced sulfhydryl form by the encapsulated glutathione reductase. The reduced glutathione subsequently induces the release of the encapsulated oligopeptides from the capsosomes by reducing the disulfide linkages of the conjugates. This study highlights the potential of capsosomes to continuously generate a potent antioxidant while simultaneously releasing small molecule therapeutics.