title: Photochemical mechanisms of light-triggered release from nanocarriers.
abstract: Over the last three decades, a handful of photochemical mechanisms have been applied to a large number of nanoscale assemblies that encapsulate a payload to afford spatio-temporal and remote control over activity of the encapsulated payload. Many of these systems are designed with an eye towards biomedical applications, as spatio-temporal and remote control of bioactivity would advance research and clinical practice. This review covers five underlying photochemical mechanisms that govern the activity of the majority of photoresponsive nanocarriers: 1. photo driven isomerization and oxidation, 2. surface plasmon absorption and photothermal effects, 3. photo driven hydrophobicity changes, 4. photo driven polymer backbone fragmentation and 5. photo driven de-crosslinking. The ways in which these mechanisms have been incorporated into nanocarriers and how they affect release are detailed, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each system.
authors.affiliation: University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, La Jolla, USA.
authors.forename: Nadezda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fomina
authors.forename: Jagadis
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sankaranarayanan
authors.forename: Adah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almutairi
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008027:Light; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055668:Photochemical Processes
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations