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.

<p>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.