Nanoshell-polymer composites for photothermally modulated drug delivery

Summary form only given. Optically active gold nanoshells; have been incorporated into thermally, responsive copolymers of N-Isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and acryl-amide (AAm) for the purpose of photothermally modulated drug delivery. The copolymer exhibits a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) that is slightly above body, temperature. When the temperature of the hydrogel exceeds its LCST, a rapid collapse occurs, expelling any material contained within the hydrogel. The gold nanoshells initiate a temperature increase, via targeted absorption of near IR light.