SERS-active liposome@Ag/Au nanocomposite for NIR light-driven drug release

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Controlling drug release and monitoring drug distribution are critical for effective therapies.
• Liposomes are widely used drug carriers, but often lack integrated monitoring capabilities.
• Developing smart nanomaterials for simultaneous drug delivery and real-time tracking is a key research area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a liposome@AgAu core/shell nanocomposite for controlled drug release and in-situ monitoring of drug molecules.
• To investigate the drug loading, release kinetics, and optical properties of the nanocomposite.
• To evaluate the biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy of the nanocomposite for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of liposome@AgAu core/shell nanocomposite via galvanic replacement reaction (GRR).
• Characterization of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and biocompatibility.
• Loading of doxorubicin (DOX) and evaluation of its fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals.
• In-vitro drug release studies triggered by 633nm laser irradiation and cytotoxicity assays (MTT).

Main Results:

• The liposome@AgAu nanocomposite exhibited tunable LSPR from visible to near-infrared regions and good biocompatibility.
• DOX-loaded nanocomposite showed lower cytotoxicity compared to free DOX.
• DOX fluorescence was quenched within the nanocomposite due to FRET, while SERS signal was enhanced.
• Photothermal conversion was observed, enabling laser-triggered DOX release and subsequent recovery of fluorescence signal.

Conclusions:

• The liposome@AgAu nanocomposite serves as a promising platform for photothermal-controlled drug delivery.
• The integrated SERS and fluorescence monitoring allows for real-time tracking of drug release.
• This dual-functionality offers potential for targeted cancer therapy with enhanced precision.