A vesicle-embedded hydrogel system was first used to investigate two aspects: i) the ability of vesicles to retain small molecule compounds while embedded in a hydrogel matrix, and ii) the ability of vesicles to release compounds in response to applied compressive stress. Figure demonstrates how vesicles can stably retain loaded compounds within the hydrogel. Over a period of one month, the fluorescence signal of dye (Cy-5, MW = 681 g/mol) inside the same vesicle remained stable. Additionally, embedded fluorescent beads remained at the same locations around the vesicle, indicating that the vesicle maintained its position within the matrix (Figure ). To assess the compound-releasing behavior of the vesicles under compression, the embedded vesicles and their internal fluorescent dye signal were monitored while gradually increasing the applied compressive stress to the hydrogel using the setup shown in Figure .