Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: Nanomedicine (Lond). 2009 Oct;4(7):813–845. doi: 10.2217/nnm.09.59

Figure 19. Photothermal bubble-based intracellular delivery.

Figure 19

Two linked nanoparticles (NPs), NP1 (yellow) and NP2 (orange), are internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis. For this, NP1 is conjugated to a monoclonal antibody by a target-specific vector. An antibody to a cytosolic target is attached to NP2. (A) Acidification of endosome cleaves the pH-sensitive links between NPs. Completion of a c vesicle forms NP clusters. (B) Photothermal heating NP1 clusters. (C) Generation of a photothermal bubble (light blue sphere). (D) Disruption of the endosomal membrane with subsequent release of NP2. (E) Association of the NP2 with a cytosolic molecular target (blue pentagon).