Core–shell hybrid nanogels for integration of optical temperature-sensing, targeted tumor cell imaging, and combined chemo-photothermal treatment

We report a class of core–shell structured hybrid nanogels to demonstrate the conception of integrating the functional building blocks into a single nanoparticle system for simultaneously optical temperature-sensing, cancer cell targeting, fluorescence imaging, and combined chemo-photothermal treatment. The hybrid nanogels were constructed by coating the Ag–Au bimetallic NP core with a thermo-responsive nonlinear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogel as shell, and semi-interpenetrating the targeting ligands of hyaluronic acid chains into the surface networks of gel shell. The Ag–Au NP core can emit strong visible fluorescence for imaging of mouse melanoma B16F10 cells. The reversible thermo-responsive volume phase transition of the nonlinear PEG-based gel shell cannot only modify the physicochemical environment of the Ag–Au NP core to manipulate the fluorescence intensity for sensing the environmental temperature change, but also provide a high loading capacity for a model anticancer drug temozolomide and offer a thermo-triggered drug release. The drug release can be induced by both the heat generated by external NIR irradiation and the temperature increase of local environmental media. The ability of the hybrid nanogels to combine the local specific chemotherapy with external NIR photothermal treatment significantly improves the therapeutic efficacy due to a synergistic effect.