Silica nanocapsules for redox-responsive delivery

Redox-responsive silica nanocapsules with a hydrophobic liquid core were synthesized by reactive templating of miniemulsion droplets with functional alkoxysilanes. Tetrasulfide bridges were successfully introduced into the inorganic shell and were found to be accessible for chemical reactions as shown by ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. Indeed, the tetrasulfide groups could be reduced to yield thiol groups. A subsequent increase of permeability of the silica shell was observed upon reduction of the tetrasulfide groups.