Microgels as drug carriers for sonopharmacology

The ultrasound-induced cleavage of covalent and non-covalent bonds to activate drugs (sonopharmacology) is a promising concept gain control over the action active pharmaceutical ingredients by an external trigger. Previously, linear polymer architectures bearing drug payloads were exploited for release using principles mechanochemistry. In this work, carrier design altered topology improve ultrasound-triggered covalently anchored from scaffolds. We use microgels crosslinked mechanoresponsive disulfides copolymerized with Diels-Alder adducts furylated payload molecules acetylenedicarboxylate. Force-induced thiol formation induces Michael-type addition liberating microgels. significantly reduces sonication times compared chains shields cargo efficiently non-triggered activation ultrasound that produces inertial cavitation at frequency 20 kHz as model condition.