Figure 5. Utility of SMEPT in conversion of fluorogenic prodrug and cargo uptake is verified through quantification of fluorescence of hepatic cells cultured on the µS PVA hydrogels.

Administration of FdG in the absence of enzyme led to a negligible change in the fluorescence of cultured cells (traces 1 : cells only, trace 2 : +FdG). SMEPT conditions (trace 3 : β-Glu immobilized within µS hydrogels, +FdG) afforded comparable level of fluorescence of the cultured cells as solution based administration (trace 4 : β-Glu and FdG are added to media above cultured cells), as quantified by flow cytometry analysis of harvested cells. In all cases, [FdG] = 2,5 µg/mL.