Cancer phototherapy in living cells by multiphoton release of doxorubicin from gold nanospheres

Doxorubicin is a widely used but toxic cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its therapeutic action and minimize side effects, it was covalently conjugated to peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres by click-chemistry and then photo-released in a controlled fashion by a multiphoton process. Selective treatment of a chosen region in a 2D layer of U2Os cancer cells is shown by driving photorelease with 561 nm irradiation at mu W power. These results show promising directions for the development of practical applications based on nanocarriers that can ensure drug delivery with high spatial and temporal control.

Doxorubicin is a widely used but toxic cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its therapeutic action and minimize side effects, it was covalently conjugated to peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres by click-chemistry and then photo-released in a controlled fashion by a multiphoton process. Selective treatment of a chosen region in a 2D layer of U2Os cancer cells is shown by driving photorelease with 561 nm irradiation at μW power. These results show promising directions for the development of practical applications based on nanocarriers that can ensure drug delivery with high spatial and temporal control. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2013.