Fabrication of mesoporous silica-covered gold nanostars for chemophototherapy

The GNS@mSiO 2 /HA carrier was prepared for the combined photo-chemotherapy. Gold nanomaterials have attracted great interest in the fight against cancer due to their surface features. In this study, gold nanostar (GNS) cloaked with mesoporous silica (GNS@mSiO 2 ) carriers were prepared for controlled drug release. The GNS core presents a branched morphology with tip-to-tip diameter of 80–120 nm and core of 40–60 nm. In this system, GNS not only served as photothermal agent but also as Raman signal enhancement matrix. After encapsulating doxorubicin (DOX) within the GNS@mSiO 2 carrier, hyaluronic acid (HA) was coated on the GNS@mSiO 2 surface to seal the loaded-drug of channels. The obtained DOX-GNS@mSiO 2 /HA displayed pH/enzyme-triggered drug release and photothermal-chemo therapeutic effect.