pH-responsive polymer microcapsules for targeted delivery of biomaterials to the midgut of Drosophila suzukii
Fig 5
pH dependence of P2VP microcapsule dissolution.
(a) Determination of the pKa of the microcapsules undertaken by monitoring light transmission (500 nm) as a function of pH. Data (mean±s.e.m; n = 3) were fitted to a sigmoidal curve using OriginPro 9.1 software. (b) Images taken at 0, 3, 6 and 12 sec from a video recording showing the effect of reducing pH on the P2VP microcapsules (see methods section) by introducing citric acid. The reduction in pH leads to swelling and rapid dissolution of the microcapsules, releasing their cargo.