A multistep photothermic-driven drug release system using wire-framed Au nanobundles

Abstract

Here, wire-framed Au nanobundles (WNBs), which consist of randomly oriented and mutually connected Au wires to form a bundle shape, are synthesized. In contrast to conventional nanoparticles (spheres, rods, cubes, and stars), which exhibit nanostructure only on the surface, cross-sectional view image shows that WNBs have nanostructures in a whole volume. By using this specific property of WNBs, an externally controllable multistep photothermic-driven drug release (PDR) system is demonstrated for in vivo cancer treatment. In contrast to conventional nanoparticles that encapsulate a drug on their surface, WNBs preserve the drug payload in the overall inner volume, providing a drug loading capacity sufficient for cancer therapy. An improved in vivo therapeutic efficacy of PDR therapy is also demonstrated by delivering sufficient amount of drugs to the target tumor region.

Keywords: cancer therapy; controlled release; drug delivery; nanoparticles; nanostructures.