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Updated: Nov 1, 2025
Facile Preparation and Photoactivation of Prodrug-Dye Nanoassemblies
Published on: February 17, 2023
Self-assembled micelle responsive to quick NIR light irradiation for fast drug release and highly efficient cancer
Yue Zhang1, Xiaobo Zhang2, Weiwei Chen2
1State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
Abstract:
Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been used for designing near infrared (NIR) light-responsive nanocarriers and controllable drug release. However, the need for long-term NIR light irradiation over hours impaired their application efficiency. Here we develop a self-assembled micelle of amphipathic polymer P-DASA which degrades via quick NIR light irradiation. UCNPs and DOX are also encapsulated in the micelle for quick drug release. P-DASA is composed of hydrophilic polyethylene glycol segment and photo-responsive hydrophobic donor-acceptor Stenhouse adduct (DASA). Only 5-min NIR irradiation causes the hydrophilicity conversion of P-DASA and the complete disruption of micelle with DOX fast release of 83.7% in 30 min to achieve highly efficient therapy. Moreover, the P-glycoprotein mediated DOX efflux is also diminished by concomitantly producing NO intracellularly. This micelle demonstrates impressive in vivo therapeutic effect, and thus provides an avenue for highly efficient cancer therapy.
