Nanostructured Gels Capable of Controlled Release of Encapsulated Agents

Abstract

Self-assembled gel compositions including a gelator, e.g., an enzyme-cleavable gelator, e.g., having a molecular weight of 2500 or less, are described. The self-assembled gel compositions can encapsulate one or more agents. Methods of making the self-assembled gel compositions, and methods of drug delivery using the self-assembled gel compositions are also described.

1 .- 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A self-assembled gel comprising:
 (i) one or more amphiphilic gelators having a molecular weight of 2,500 or less selected from the group consisting of triglycerol monoalkanoates, ascorbyl alkanoates, sorbitan alkanoates, sucrose alkanoates, and combinations thereof, and   (ii) one or more agents selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide, an antibody, a polynucleotide, and a polyribonucleotide.   wherein the one or more amphiphilic gelators are self-assembled in a nanostructure, wherein the one or more agents are embedded in the nanostructure.   
     
     
         39 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more agents are embedded between lamellae of the nanostructure. 
     
     
         40 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more agents are embedded within hydrophobic groups of the gelators of the nanostructure. 
     
     
         41 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more amphiphilic gelators are enzyme cleavable. 
     
     
         42 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the nanostructure is in the form of fibers. 
     
     
         43 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the nanostructure is in the form of sheets. 
     
     
         44 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the self-assembled gel is a hydrogel. 
     
     
         45 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the self-assembled gel is a xerogel. 
     
     
         46 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 45 , wherein the xerogel is in powder form. 
     
     
         47 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more amphiphilic gelators comprise an ascorbyl alkanoate. 
     
     
         48 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 47 , wherein the ascorbyl alkanoate comprises ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl decanoate, ascorbyl laurate, ascorbyl caprylate, ascorbyl myristate, ascorbyl oleate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more amphiphilic gelators comprise a sorbitan alkanoate. 
     
     
         50 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 49 , wherein the sorbitan alkanoate comprises sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan decanoate, sorbitan laurate, sorbitan caprylate, sorbitan myristate, sorbitan oleate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         51 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more amphiphilic gelators comprise a triglycerol monoalkanoate. 
     
     
         52 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 51 , wherein the triglycerol monoalkanoate comprises triglycerol monostearate, triglycerol monopalmitate, triglycerol monodecanoate, triglycerol monolaurate, triglycerol monocaprylate, triglycerol monomyristate, triglycerol monooleate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         53 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein one or more of the agents is a polypeptide. 
     
     
         54 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein one or more of the agents is an antibody. 
     
     
         55 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein one or more of the agents is a polynucleotide. 
     
     
         56 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein one or more of the agents is a polyribonucleotide. 
     
     
         57 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more amphiphilic gelators comprise an ascorbyl alkanoate and the one or more agents comprise a polypeptide. 
     
     
         58 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 57 , wherein the ascorbyl alkanoate comprises ascorbyl palmitate. 
     
     
         59 . The self-assembled gel of  claim 38 , wherein the loading efficiency of the agent embedded in the nanostructure is up to 35%.