CC BY-NC 3.0 UnportedKharandiuk, TetianaTan, Kok HuiXu, WenjingWeitenhagen, FabianBraun, SusanneGöstl, RobertPich, Andrij2023-02-062023-02-062022https://oa.tib.eu/renate/handle/123456789/11284http://dx.doi.org/10.34657/10320In the context of controlled delivery and release, proteins constitute a delicate class of cargo requiring advanced delivery platforms and protection. We here show that mechanoresponsive diselenide-crosslinked microgels undergo controlled ultrasound-triggered degradation in aqueous solution for the release of proteins. Simultaneously, the proteins are protected from chemical and conformational damage by the microgels, which disintegrate to water-soluble polymer chains upon sonication. The degradation process is controlled by the amount of diselenide crosslinks, the temperature, and the sonication amplitude. We demonstrate that the ultrasound-mediated cleavage of diselenide bonds in these microgels facilitates the release and activates latent functionality preventing the oxidation and denaturation of the encapsulated proteins (cytochrome C and myoglobin) opening new application possibilities in the targeted delivery of biomacromolecules.enghttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0540Controlled releaseControlled-deliveryCrosslinkedDegradation processEncapsulated proteinsMicrogelPolymer chainsRadical scavengingScavenging abilityWatersoluble polymersArticle