Semiconductor resonant all-optical temperature sensor and thermal release trigger of encapsulated anti-cancer drugs for in vitro studies

Abstract

Nanostructures made of high-index semiconductors (n > 2.5) with the several orders of magnitude lower losses than noble metals possess (Au, Ag, Pt etc.) are gaining high interest in recent years for various advanced optical applications, including nanothermometry and optical heating. Owing to the high-Q of Mie-optical modes that are being supported by the nanostructures, such nanoresonators can be considered as a powerful tool for light absorption at the nanoscale. However, high potential of resonant semiconductor nanoparticles in drug release and delivery applications has not been studied yet. In this work, we prove both experimentally and theoretically that optically resonant iron-oxide (III) (Fe2O3) can be employed as a remote optical trigger for thermal rupture of polymer microcontainers used as a drug delivery platform. Such approach allows one to measure real-time temperature via thermally sensitive Raman signal of iron-oxide nanoparticles, that were embedded into the walls of microcontainers. We believe that, suggested system consisting of resonant semiconductor nanoparticles and polymer carrier capsules can serve as a highly efficient drug delivery platform with controllable remote release with temperature feedback.