Trojan‐Horse‐Like Stimuli‐Responsive Microcapsules

Chuan‐Lin Mou; Wei Wang; Zhi‐Lu Li; Xiao‐Jie Ju; Rui Xie; Nan‐Nan Deng; Jie Wei; Zhuang Liu; Liang‐Yin Chu

Index: 10.1002/advs.201700960

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Abstract

Multicompartment microcapsules, with each compartment protected by a distinct stimuli‐responsive shell for versatile controlled release, are highly desired for developing new‐generation microcarriers. Although many multicompartmental microcapsules have been created, most cannot combine different release styles to achieve flexible programmed sequential release. Here, one‐step template synthesis of controllable Trojan‐horse‐like stimuli‐responsive microcapsules is reported with capsule‐in‐capsule structures from microfluidic quadruple emulsions for diverse programmed sequential release. The nested inner and outer capsule compartments can separately encapsulate different contents, while their two stimuli‐responsive hydrogel shells can individually control the content release from each capsule compartment for versatile sequential release. This is demonstrated by using three types of Trojan‐horse‐like stimuli‐responsive microcapsules, with different combinations of release styles for flexible programmed sequential release. The proposed microcapsules provide novel advanced candidates for developing new‐generation microcarriers for diverse, efficient applications.