View article

Multifunctional nanoparticles that can provide long circulation and specific accumulation, illuminate the targeted object, and intelligently dose the pathological zones will enable major advancements in diagnosis and therapy. To facilitate a simultaneous tumor-cell imaging and adequate local delivery to the tumor site, we develop core−shell structured hybrid nanogels (40−80 nm) composed of a Ag nanoparticle (NP) as core and smart gel of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) as shell. The pH-induced shrinkage of the nanogel increases the UV−vis absorption intensity and causes a blue shift of the surface plasmon bands of the Ag NP core. The smart nanogel can overcome cellular barriers to enter the intracellular region and light up the mouse melanoma B16F10 cells, including the nuclear regions. The surface property and concentrations of the hybrid nanogels influences their interactions with cells …