Photocracking Silica: Tuning the Plasmonic Photothermal Degradation of Mesoporous Silica Encapsulating Gold Nanoparticles for Cargo Release

Abstract

The degradation of bionanomaterials is essential for medical applications of nanoformulations, but most inorganic-based delivery agents do not biodegrade at controllable rates. In this contribution, we describe the controllable plasmonic photocracking of gold@silica nanoparticles by tuning the power and wavelength of the laser irradiation, or by tuning the size of the encapsulated gold cores. Particles were literally broken to pieces or dissolved from the inside out upon laser excitation of the plasmonic cores. The photothermal cracking of silica, probably analogous to thermal fracturing in glass, was then harnessed to release cargo molecules from gold@silica@polycaprolactone nanovectors. This unique and controllable plasmonic photodegradation has implications for nanomedicine, photopatterning, and sensing applications.

Degradable Carbon–Silica Nanocomposite with Immunoadjuvant Property for Dual-Modality Photothermal/Photodynamic Therapy

“…To study the degradability of CSN in vitro, we investigated its degradation behavior in both SBF and SLF at 37 °C with or without NIR light. 38 The morphological evolution of CSN with degradation time was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). After NIR light irradiation, as shown in CSNs were degraded into fragments that were mainly about 5 nm (Figure 3c,d), which would facilitate renal clearance.…”

“…To study the degradability of CSN in vitro , we investigated its degradation behavior in both SBF and SLF at 37 °C with or without NIR light . The morphological evolution of CSN with degradation time was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).…”

Role of plasmonics in detection of deadliest viruses: a review

“…Nanostructures and especially NPs have shown great potential for vaccine preparation [ 260 – 262 ], RNA/DNA drug delivery [ 263 – 266 ], and diagnosis [ 263 , 267 – 269 ]. About 98% of entry tiny molecules and colloid-sized particles cannot enter the brain through obstacle BBB [ 270 ].…”

Plant-derived silica nanoparticles and composites for biosensors, bioimaging, drug delivery and supercapacitors: a review

“…d 0.1 M CTAB:45 M H 2 O pore size 2.7 nm, reprinted with permission from Vazquez et al ( 2017 ). e Gold–mesoporous silica under plasmonic photothermal with irradiation for 14 h at 514 nm under 15 mW, reprinted with permission from Croissant and Guardado-Alvarez ( 2019 ). f Multibranched-polymer composite with gold–silica core–shell nanoparticles, reprinted with permission from Carrasco et al ( 2016 ).…”