Cancer phototherapy in living cells by multiphoton release of doxorubicin from gold nanospheres

Doxorubicin is a widely used but toxic cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its therapeutic action and minimize side effects, it was covalently conjugated to peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres by click-chemistry and then photo-released in a controlled fashion by a multiphoton process. Selective treatment of a chosen region in a 2D layer of U2Os cancer cells is shown by driving photorelease with 561 nm irradiation at mu W power. These results show promising directions for the development of practical applications based on nanocarriers that can ensure drug delivery with high spatial and temporal control.