Gold Nanoparticles for Photothermally Controlled Drug Release

Abstract

In this article, we describe how nanoparticles work in photothermally triggered drug delivery, starting with a description of the plasmon resonance and the photothermal effect, and how this is used to release a drug. Then, we describe the four major functionalization strategies and each of their different applications. Finally, we discuss the biodistribution and toxicity of these systems and the necessary requirements for the use of gold nanoparticles for spatially and temporally controlling drug release through the photothermal effect.

Keywords::

• cancer
• drug delivery
• near-infrared irradiation
• photothermal release
• spatial and temporal release

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by FONDECYT grant no. 11130494 and 1130425, FONDAP grant no. 15130011 and UNAB DI569-14/R. N Hassan acknowledges funding from the FONDECYT postdoctoral program no. 3140489, stage 2014. F Albericio acknowledges funding from CICYT (CTQ2012-30930) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (2009SGR 1024; Spain). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by FONDECYT grant no. 11130494 and 1130425, FONDAP grant no. 15130011 and UNAB DI569-14/R. N Hassan acknowledges funding from the FONDECYT postdoctoral program no. 3140489, stage 2014. F Albericio acknowledges funding from CICYT (CTQ2012-30930) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (2009SGR 1024; Spain). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.