Anisotropic Gold Nanoparticle Decorated Magnetopolymersome: An Advanced Nanocarrier for Targeted Photothermal Therapy and Dual-Mode Responsive T₁ MRI Imaging

Herein, we report the advanced polymer vesicle [made up of triblock polymer: poly(ethylene oxide)-co-poly(Cys-AuNP@FA)-co-poly(3-methoxypropylacrylamide] having encapsulated magnetic nanoparticle capable of targeted methotrexate delivery (having folic acid as tagging agent), photothermal therapy [anisotropic gold nanoparticle (AuNPs)] and stimuli-responsive T1-imaging (as MRI contrast agent). The prepared polymersome, called as magnetopolymersome (MPS), after encapsulation of magnetic nanoparticle (Gd-doped) is not only high yield and simple in synthesis but also possess very high biocompatibility, more than 95% drug encapsulation efficiency and effective near-infrared (NIR) responsive photothermal therapy. The MPS is highly stable under normal physiological environments and other extreme end conditions (like presence of serum or Triton-X 100) and have excellent stimuli-responsive (temperature and NIR) T1-contrast effect in vitro conditions (60.57 mM–1 s–1). To explore the role of shape of AuNPs on the ph...