Here, a synthetic method has been optimized for the synthesis of thermo and pH responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) nanogels which are subsequently loaded with Cytochrome C using a modified breathing-in mechanism. Physico-chemical properties mapped using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirm the swelling/de-swelling kinetics as reversible with a volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) of ~ 39 °C. Fe@Au nanoparticles were incorporated inside the nanogel networks using two different methods-coating and in-situ growth. The latter bears closer resemblance to the nanogels only while the former follows the trend of bare Fe@Au nanoparticles. High loading (~96%) and encapsulation (500 µg/mg of nanogels) of Cytochrome C were obtained. Release experiments performed using a dialysis setup and monitored using UV-vis spectroscopy show the highest release at 40°C and pH 3.2 (high temperature, low pH), with maximum release from the Fe@Au coated nanogels that also show a reverse swelling-collapse trend. The location of the drug, incorporation and presence of Fe@Au nanoparticles and drug incorporation method are found to control both the drug release mechanism and kinetics. KEYWORDS ((Nanogels, core-shell nanoparticles, Volume phase transition temperature, programmed drug release, breathing-in)) Incorporation of Fe@Au nanoparticles into multiresponsive pNIPAM-AAc colloidal gels modulates drug uptake and release. Supporting Information.