Photoactivated Release of Cargo from the Cavity of Polyelectrolyte Capsules to the Cytosol of Cells

• Published in: Langmuir 2008-11, Vol.24 (21), p.12517-12520
• Main Authors: Muñoz Javier, A, del Pino, P, Bedard, M. F, Ho, D, Skirtach, A. G, Sukhorukov, G. B, Plank, C, Parak, W. J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological Interfaces: Biocolloids, Biomolecular and Biomimetic Materials; Chemistry; Colloidal state and disperse state; Cytosol - chemistry; Electrolytes - chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Surface physical chemistry
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la802448z

Polyelectrolyte capsules with metal nanoparticles in their walls and fluorescently labeled polymers as cargo inside their cavity were prepared. Capsules were ingested by living cells with no uncontrolled release of the cargo upon the incorporation process. Photoinduced heating of the metal nanoparticles in the capsule walls lead to rupture of the capsule walls, and the polymeric cargo was released to the whole cytosol. Viability tests demonstrate that opening of capsules at moderate light intensities does not impair the cellular metabolism, whereas capsule opening at high light intensities ultimately leads to cell death.