Enzyme-responsive nanocontainer for small molecule delivery

Abstract

Nanocontainers are a small volume of nanocarriers with at least one dimension in the nanometer range and have been used to deliver small molecules to the targeted cells. These nanocontainers can reach the specific location by active or passive targeting, which results in minimization of the side effects associated with the small molecules. The term "smart nanocontainer" is used as a delivery vehicle or carrier, which trigger the release of small molecules upon endogenous/exogenous stimuli such as pH, temperature, enzymes, and ultrasonic wave. However, the release of the cargo depends on several factors such as the material used for the fabrication of nanocontainers and the stimuli that trigger the release of the cargo. This chapter will cover the enzyme-responsive nanocontainer for the controlled release of the small molecules. © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.