Patent ID: 8729246

Claim:
A method for delivering an active agent to an organism, comprising: introducing a composition into an organism, said composition comprising: a gel formed from: first polymers having first functional groups comprising a first nucleic acid sequence attached as side-chains thereto; and second polymers having second functional groups comprising a second nucleic acid sequence attached as side-chains thereto, said first and said second functional groups form reversible cross-links between said first and said second polymers, wherein said cross links comprise a plurality of hydrogen bonds between complementary base portions of said first and said second nucleic acid sequences; and further including therein said gel an active agent disposed between said first and second polymers, said active agent capable of being released by an interaction of a substance with said first or said second nucleic acid sequences to thereby break said cross-links, wherein: said first and second polymers are separate polymers and said first and second polymers are held together by said hydrogen bonds, said gel is in a solid state when said cross-links are unbroken, and said gel is in a fluid state when said cross-links are broken, and wherein said organism includes a substance capable of releasing said active agent from said composition by breaking said cross-links.