Supramolecular vesicles for stimulus-responsive drug delivery

Abstract

Developing smart controlled‐release systems for cancer therapy is highly desired in biomedicine. In order to improve therapeutic efficacy and lower undesired side effects, the construction of stimulus‐responsive nanocarriers is a favorable solution. Emerging supramolecular self‐assemblies possessing intrinsic dynamic and adaptive features present promising capabilities for the fabrication of stimulus‐responsive drug‐release systems. Dynamic supramolecular vesicles have attracted considerable attention as therapeutic carriers ascribed to their advantages of high‐cargo‐loading capacity/feasibility, excellent biocompatibility, and facile functionalization. Here, a summary and discussion of recent significant development of vesicles constructed by supramolecular self‐assembly for stimulus‐responsive drug delivery and therapeutics is given. Through presenting some representative studies, strategies regarding the design, synthesis, characterization, and biomedical applications of supramolecular vesicle carriers are highlighted according to various stimulus triggers. The aim is to provide a quick research update in this rapidly developing field.