Luminescent gold nanocluster-decorated polymeric hybrid particles for laser guided therapy

Gold nanoclusters or ultrasmall gold atom clusters (AuNCs, <2 nm in diameter) exhibit emergent photonic properties the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum due to quantization of their conduction band. This gives rise attractive NIR luminescent that offer great promises for imaging and diagnostic purposes biomedical applications. AuNCs also absorb light biological window inducing photothermal events can facilitate localized drug release synergistic thermal therapy. Here, we designed a micellar system based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) copolymerized with functional monomers allow core-crosslinking via oxo-ester mediated native chemical ligation (OMNCL). These micelles are decorated (<2 nm) covalently bound thiolated doxorubicin, which both precise intracellular as well light-induced cell killing. The polymer emission maximum at ~ 720 quantum yield 3%. Internalization studies MDA-MB-231 cancer cells showed doxorubicin remains within cytosolic region after 24 h incubation. Upon irradiation 650 nm, highly death is observed, limited only irradiated area. innovative hybrid material design AuNC-decorated enables an efficient combination live precisely controlled