Near-infrared light-responsive, diselenide containing core-cross-linked micelles prepared by the Diels–Alder click reaction for photocontrollable drug release application

Near-infrared (NIR) light possesses great advantages for light-responsive controlled drug release, such as deep tissue penetration and a less detrimental effect on healthy tissues. In this paper, we report a facile and efficient preparation of a NIR-triggered micelle system for a drug vehicle. The system consists of NIR-sensitive indocyanine green (ICG) and anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX) which are simultaneously encapsulated in core-cross-linked (CCL) micelles formed by the Diels–Alder click reaction between poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(furfuryl methacrylate) (PEO-b-PFMA) and a novel diselenide-containing bismaleimide cross-linker. Under NIR (808 nm) irradiation, ICG generates reactive oxygen species which can cleave diselenide bonds in the core of CCL micelles. This response to NIR irradiation allows the rapid release of DOX from the de-cross-linked micelles, leading to significantly enhanced apoptosis in HepG2 cells as evidenced by a cytotoxicity test and confocal laser scanning microscopy.