Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have developed a novel architecture using activated gold nanospheres to release SiRNA in a temporally and spatially controlled manner.  The nanoshells are coated with Tat-lipid molecules that allow an efficient uptake into cell (between 10 and 103 NS per cell). The technique can be expanded to deliver numerous drug molecules against diverse biological targets. Tests showed ~50% silencing exclusively in the area exposed to the laser, and reached ~75% the next day.

File Number: 19957 

Web site: http://techtransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/...

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Background
The temporal and spatial control over the delivery of materials such as siRNA into cells remains a significant technical challenge. Photocaging of nucleic acids followed by UV release has been used for light-controlled antisense delivery into cells, but the caging groups are unresponsive at the NIR wavelength. NIR release from a nanoparticles, which can carry thousands of cargo molecules, should form a versatile, trackable delivery vehicle for high-resolution drug release. However, a high power laser exposure is required in order to cause the rupture of the vesicle and the subsequent delivery of the drug through membranes.