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Updated: Feb 4, 2026
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Targeted Plasma Membrane Delivery of a Hydrophobic Cargo Encapsulated in a Liquid Crystal Nanoparticle Carrier
Published on: February 8, 2017
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Structurally engineered yolk-shell mesoporous silica rods with liquid and nanoparticle cargo.
Hyun-Seok Choe1, Geun Young Kim1, Jeong-Min Park1
1Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea.
Materials Horizons
|February 2, 2026
Summary
This study introduces novel rod-shaped yolk-shell structured silica nanomaterials, offering advanced drug delivery capabilities. These versatile structures can encapsulate various substances, expanding applications beyond traditional hollow materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Yolk-shell structured nanomaterials offer superior encapsulation compared to hollow materials.
- Existing research predominantly focuses on spherical yolk-shell structures.
- There is a need for alternative morphologies like rod-shaped structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pioneer the synthesis of rod-shaped yolk-shell structured silica nanomaterials.
- To demonstrate their potential as drug delivery carriers.
- To develop multifunctional yolk-shell structured silica rods with magnetic and photothermal properties.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of uniform silica rods (SRs) using silica nanoparticles as growth nuclei.
- Fabrication of hollow mesoporous and yolk-shell structured silica rods (HMSRs and YSSRs) using SRs as sacrificial templates.
- Incorporation of dual-fluorescent labeling and encapsulation of fluorescent oil for drug delivery studies.
- Integration of magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for multifunctional YSSRs.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized rod-shaped hollow mesoporous and yolk-shell structured silica rods.
- Developed dual-fluorescent YSSRs demonstrating potential for lipophilic drug delivery.
- Fabricated multifunctional YSSRs incorporating Fe3O4 and AuNPs, exhibiting paramagnetism and photothermal effects.
- Established universal synthesis strategies for diverse yolk-shell structured nanomaterials.
Conclusions:
- Rod-shaped yolk-shell structured silica nanomaterials represent a significant advancement over spherical counterparts.
- These materials offer versatile platforms for encapsulating diverse substances, including drugs and nanoparticles.
- The developed synthesis strategies open new avenues for applications in drug delivery, diagnostics, and theranostics.
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