AuNP and ssDNA capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles for laser controlled drug release

In order to improve drug efficacy, and reduce drug toxicity and side effects, a novel drug controlled release system was developed based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) acting as pore caps and short single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) oligomers as the linker. The synthesised composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), zeta potential measurement, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) was applied as a model drug to investigate the 808 nm near infrared (NIR) laser-controlled drug release behavior at different pH by fluorescence measurements. The investigation results demonstrate that this nanocarrier could achieve drug controlled release by external near-infrared (NIR) laser stimulation, which is expected to be applied in cancer therapy.