Hydrogel-nanoparticle composites for optically modulated cancer therapeutic delivery.

ABSTRACT: A poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) (NIPAAm-co-AAm) hydrogel with near-infrared (NIR) absorbing silica-gold nanoshells was designed as a platform for pulsatile delivery of cancer therapeutics. This hydrogel was designed to have a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) above physiologic temperature, such that the material will transition from a hydrated state to a collapsed state above ~40°C. Additionally, the silica-gold nanoshells used were designed to have a peak extinction coefficient in the NIR, where penetration of light through tissue is maximal. This heat-triggered material phase transition of the composite was found to follow exposure of NIR light, indicating the ability of the NIR absorption by the nanoshells to sufficiently drive this transition. The composite materia

SUBMITTER: Strong LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4077349 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature