Laser triggered drug release from magnetoliposomes

Phosphatidylcholine liposomes were prepared with 6-carboxyfluorescein and dextran-magnetite entrapped in their aqueous interior compartments. This so-called magnetoliposome system was evaluated for its feasibility of using a laser as a triggering mechanism for the release of drugs. Substantial amounts of carboxyfluorescein were released in response to a single nanosecond laser pulse. Indirectly it has been shown that this effect is probably due to the magnetite-mediated localized temperature increase. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.