A Redox-Responsive Supramolecular Hydrogel for Controllable Dye Release

A novel and simple strategy for preparing a redox-responsive supramolecular hydrogel coassembled from phenylalanine derivative gelator and 4,4′-dipyridine disulfide is reported in this study. The driving force for the coassembly process is intermolecular hydrogen bonds, as confirmed by various characterization methods, such as 1 H NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The disulfide-containing nanofibrous hydrogel is able to control over the release of encapsulated dyes in response to the reductive condition mimicking the intracellular environment like tumor tissues and should be a promising system for controllable drug release in the fields of nanomedicine and cancer therapy.