Janus Gold Nanostars-Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for NIR-Light-Triggered Drug Delivery
"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Hernández Montoto, Andy, Antoni Llopis-Lorente, Mónica Gorbe, José M. Terrés, Roberto Cao Milán, Borja Díaz de Greñu, María Alfonso, et al. 2019. Janus Gold Nanostars Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for NIR-Light-Triggered Drug Delivery. Chemistry A European Journal 25 (36). Wiley: 8471 78. doi:10.1002/chem.201900750, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201900750. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving." ; [EN] Janus gold nanostar-mesoporous silica nanoparticle (AuNSt-MSNP) nanodevices able to release an entrapped payload upon irradiation with near infrared (NIR) light were prepared and characterized. The AuNSt surface was functionalized with a thiolated photolabile molecule (5), whereas the mesoporous silica face was loaded with a model drug (doxorubicin) and capped with proton-responsive benzimidazole-beta-cyclodextrin supramolecular gatekeepers (N 1). Upon irradiation with NIR-light, the photolabile compound 5 photodissociated, resulting in the formation of succinic acid, which induced the opening of the gatekeeper and cargo delivery. In the overall mechanism, the gold surface acts as a photochemical transducer capable of transforming the NIR-light input into a chemical messenger (succinic acid) that opens the supramolecular nanovalve. The prepared hybrid nanoparticles were non-cytotoxic to HeLa cells, until they were irradiated with a NIR laser, which led to intracellular doxorubicin release and hyperthermia. This induced a remarkable reduction in HeLa cells viability. ; The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Government [Projects MAT2015-64139-C4-1-R, AGL2015-70235-C2-2-R and SAF2017-84689-R (MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE)], the Generalitat Valenciana (Project PROMETEO2018/024) and European Union (Erasmus Mundus Programme, Action 2, grant agreement number 2014-0870/001001). A.H. thanks the Erasmus Mundus Programme ...