Near-Infrared Light-Triggered Dissociation of Block Copolymer Micelles Using Upconverting Nanoparticles

作者：Yan Bin; Boyer John Christopher; Branda Neil R^*; Zhao Yue

来源：Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2011, 133(49): 19714-19717.

DOI：10.1021/ja209793b

We demonstrate a novel strategy enabling the use of a continuous-wave diode near-infrared (NIR) laser to disrupt block copolymer (BCP) micelles and trigger the release of their "payloads". By encapsulating NaYF(4):TmYb upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) inside micelles of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl methacrylate) and exposing the micellar solution to 980 nm light, photons in the UV region are emitted by the UCNPs, which in turn are absorbed by o-nitrobenzyl groups on the micelle core-forming block, activating the photocleavage reaction and leading to the dissociation of BCP micelles and release of co-loaded hydrophobic species. Our strategy of using UCNPs as an internal UV or visible light source upon NIR light excitation represents a general and efficient method to circumvent the need for UV or visible light excitation that is a common drawback for light-responsive polymeric systems developed for potential biomedical applications.

• 出版日期2011-12-14