Controlled chemical and drug delivery via the internal and external surfaces of layered compounds

We demonstrate, and review the very small, but growing body of literature regarding a recently discovered application of layered compounds, which involves the ability of layered materials to sequester and later release molecules of chemical and biological significance. The application relies upon intercalation chemistry; a reversible process whereby atoms, molecules, macromolecules, and polymers may be inserted into the interstices of a layered matrix. We demonstrate that layered materials are able to effectively getter water-soluble atoms and molecules from aqueous dispersions, and further demonstrate that the absorbed molecules can be later released from the interlayer region to perform a desired chemical function. Work in our laboratory involving the application of layered hybrid materials in photographic media is described in detail and we establish two general release mechanisms whereby intercalated functional chemistry can be first sequestrated and later delivered via a chemical switch to perform a desired function. The process has enormous potential as a general method for the controlled, temporal release of materials of chemical and biological significance.