Dual stimuli-responsive upconversion nanoparticle–poly-N-isopropylacrylamide/DNA core–shell microgels

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)–poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM)/DNA core–shell microgels with tunable sizes and programmable functions have been prepared. Thanks to the near-infrared (NIR)-responsive UCNP cores and thermosensitive polymeric shells, functional DNA-incorporated microgels with high DNA activity and loading efficiency are obtained, and the activity of the loaded DNA structures can be smartly regulated by NIR illumination and temperature simultaneously.