Photo-driven nano-impellers and nanovalves for on-command drug release

摘要

Three types of photo-responsive nano-architectures -nano-gatekeepers, nanovalves and nanoimpellers- were synthesized based on azobenzene derivatives tethered in and on mesporous silica nanoparticles. The light responsive nature of these materials enables them to be externally controlled such that transport of the cargo molecules from mesopores can be regulated. In particular, nanoimpellers have shown to successfully release anti-cancer drug, camptothecin, upon photoactivation and ultimately led to cell apoptosis.