Light-responsive drug carrier vesicles assembled by cinnamic acid-based peptide.

A novel cinnamic acid-based dipeptide is designed and prepared from cinnamic acid and glycylglycine. In aqueous solution, the molecules can self-assemble into vesicular structures, which were characterized in detail by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Aromatic stacking and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions are regarded as the driving force in the formation of the stable supramolecular structure. Subsequently, the stimuli-responsive property of the vesicles to UV irradiation was also studied. The vesicles were also found to be able to efficiently carry hydrophobic drugs. We believe that this study may provide more references in the fields of body-friendly smart materials with the hope of in vivo applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]