Photothermally induced release from liposome suspended in mixture solution of gold nanoparticle and thermo-sensitive polymer

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 469; pp. 73 - 82
• Main Authors: Guo, Huangying, Kim, Jin-Chul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-03-2015
• Subjects: Gold nanoparticle; Liposome; Photothermal induced release; Thermo-responsive polymer; Liposome; Photothermal induced release; Thermo-responsive polymer; Gold nanoparticle
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2015.01.010

•Gold nanoparticles (GNP)/PNIPAM-BMA mixture are mixed with DPPC liposome.•The temperature of suspension increases due to the treatment of near infrared (NIR) irradiation to GNP.•A stepwise release takes place under NIR irradiation for the thermal contraction of the thermo-sensitive copolymer and the phase transition of the liposome membrane.
The release profiles of calcein from dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposome, with/without gold nanoparticle (GNP) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-butylmethacrylate) (PNIPAM-BMA), were observed as function of temperature and NIR irradiation. DPPC liposome without GNP/copolymer released calcein substantially only when the temperature was higher than the phase transition temperature (PTT, 41°C) of the liposome membrane. Meanwhile, the liposome with GNP and PNIAPM-BMA released its payload even below PPT (e.g. even at 37°C). The thermal contraction of the thermo-responsive polymer would be responsible for the release occurred below PPT. On the other hand, under NIR irradiation, DPPC liposome with GNP and PNIPAM-BMA showed a stepwise release. The first step of release is possibly due to the thermal contraction of the polymer and the second step of release is possibly because of the phase transition of the liposome membrane. The photothermal energy generated by GNP could be responsible for the NIR irradiation-triggered release.