Near-IR remote release from assemblies of liposomes and nanoparticles.

Set free by light: Near-IR (NIR) laser-initiated remote release of fluorescent dye from complexes of liposome-gold-nanoparticle aggregates is demonstrated (see fluorescence images). Complexes of the desired size are shown to be a viable approach to the construction of vesicle-based drug-delivery systems with light-triggered remote release characteristics. This opens up a new method to manipulate liposome-based drug-delivery systems in a biocompatible way by using the near-IR spectral range.