Coacervate microdroplets formed from pH- and redox-responsive peptides and self-assembled by liquid–liquid phase separation have been shown to quickly recruit macromolecular therapeutics—such as peptides, large proteins and mRNAs—and directly enter the cytosol of cells via a non-endocytic pathway. The subsequent release of therapeutic cargo is mediated by endogenic glutathione.
Phase-separating peptides for direct cytosolic delivery and redox-activated release of macromolecular therapeutics