Using clever technology and special chemicals, UCLA scientists were able to create unique transport intracellular nanoparticles, motorized by ‘nanoimpellers’, that can be manually activated to release their cargo with a switch of a light, potentially allowing for precise targeting of drugs directly to the tumor. The nanoparticles are based on mesoporous silica, an interesting material seen on these pages before.
UCLA researchers used mesoporous silica nanoparticles and coated the interiors of the pores with azobenzene, a chemical that can oscillate between two different conformations upon light exposure. Operation of the nanoimpeller was demonstrated using a variety of human cancer cells, including colon and pancreatic cancer cells. The nanoparticles were given to human cancer cells in vitro and taken up in the dark. When light was directed at the particles, the nanoimpeller mechanism took effect and released the contents.
The pores of the particles can be loaded with cargo molecules, such as dyes or anticancer drugs. In response to light exposure, a wagging motion occurs, causing the cargo molecules to escape from the pores and attack the cell. Confocal microscopic images showed that the impeller operation can be regulated precisely by the intensity of the light, the excitation time and the specific wavelength.
“We developed a mechanism that releases small molecules in aqueous and biological environments during exposure to light,” Zink said. “The nanomachines are positioned in molecular-sized pores inside of spherical particles and function in aqueous and biological environments.”
Press release: Nanoimpeller’ releases anticancer drugs inside of cancer cells…
Abstract in Light-Activated Nanoimpeller-Controlled Drug Release in Cancer Cells…
The Zink Group…
Image credit: Oliver Burston, Wellcome Images: Artist’s conception of nanoparticles…
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