Photoactivated anticancer chemotherapy distinguishes itself by the high selectivity by virtue of the spatiotemporal control of irradiation. However, short photoactivation wavelengths limit its application. Herein, an amphiphilic Ru(II) complex, cis-[Ru(bpy)2(C18H37CN)2]2+ (bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine), was embedded along with a poly(ethylene glycol, PEG)-modified lipid onto the surfaces of oleate-capped lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). The resultant core-shell hybrid system is water dispersible, stable in the dark, and release a DNA covalent-binding agent of [Ru(bpy)2(H2O)2]2+ upon 980 nm laser irradiation, providing guidelines for developing near-infrared (NIR) light triggered chemotherapeutics.

RSC Adv., 2016