Visible light-triggered cargo release from donor acceptor Stenhouse adduct (DASA)-doped lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles

Abstract Light-responsive nanocarriers are applicable as non-invasive, highly tunable and precisely controlled drug delivery systems. Here, we report a new nanocarrier system, achieved by doping D1 , a type of green light–responsive donor acceptor Stenhouse adduct (DASA), into a lipid-based lyotropic liquid crystalline system. Time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering was used to confirm that the matrix underwent a rapid and fully reversible phase transition from lamellar to inverse cubic phase upon irradiation with green light (532 nm), reverting back on removal of light. Fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran (FD4) was used as a model hydrophilic cargo. The release of cargo upon varying irradiation parameters was investigated in vitro which showed that irradiation can trigger a burst release of FD4 upon phase transition. This additive shows promise for the development of new visible light-activated, “on demand” drug delivery systems.