Magnetically-responsive silica-gold nanobowls for targeted delivery and SERS-based sensing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Composite colloidal structures offer multi-functional properties for applications in targeted delivery, molecular imaging, and high-throughput bio-sensing.
• Developing novel nanostructures with integrated functionalities is crucial for advancing these fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a multifunctional composite magnetic nanobowl using a bottom-up approach.
• To characterize the nanobowls' properties and evaluate their performance in magnetic transport, imaging, and cellular uptake.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of nanobowls using an asymmetric silica/polystyrene Janus template.
• Characterization via electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, magnetometry, vis-NIR, and FTIR spectroscopy.
• Assessment of magnetic transport in hydrogels and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) imaging capabilities, including in vitro cellular uptake studies.

Main Results:

• Successful construction of silica-gold nanobowls incorporating iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles.
• Demonstrated magnetically vectored transport of nanobowls through a hydrogel under a magnetic field.
• Exhibited SERS imaging capability and size-dependent cellular uptake of PEGylated nanobowls.

Conclusions:

• The developed magnetic nanobowls are multifunctional and possess capabilities for targeted transport and SERS imaging.
• These nanostructures show promise for applications in drug delivery, molecular imaging, and bio-sensing.
• Further research into their size-dependent cellular interactions can optimize their use in biomedical applications.