A plasmonic core-shell gold nanostars/zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF-8) nanocomposite was developed for thermoplasmonic-driven release of encapsulated active molecules inside living cells. The nanocomposites were loaded, as a proof of concept, with bisbenzimide molecules as functional cargo, and wrapped with an amphiphilic polymer that prevents ZIF-8 degradation and bisbenzimide leaking in aqueous media or inside living cells. The demonstrated molecule-release mechanism relies on the use of near-IR light coupled to the plasmonic absorption of the core gold nanostars, which creates local temperature gradients and thus, bisbenzimide thermodiffusion. Confocal microscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) were used to demonstrate bisbenzimide loading/leaking and near-IR-triggered cargo release inside cells, thereby leading to DNA staining.

Aqueous stable gold nanostar/ZIF-8 nanocomposites for light triggered release of active cargo inside living cells

2019 Fall National Meeting

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