Virus-Surface-Mimicking Surface Clustering of AuNPs onto DNA-Entrapped Polymeric Nanoparticle for Enhanced Cellular Internalization and Nanocluster-Induced NIR Photothermal Therapy

Virus-surface-mimicking decoration of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-entrapped polymeric nanoparticle with AuNPs is demonstrated to lead to enhanced cellular uptake, improved gene transfection, and particularly efficient near-infrared photothermal therapy that cannot be achieved by both of them separately. This hybrid nanosystem represents a novel paradigm of multipurpose organic-inorganic nanoplatform, especially for cancer treatments.